Updated Feb. 20, 2026, 2:27 p.m. PT
After years of speculation, the Seattle Seahawks are officially for sale. The Paul G. Allen estate announced they would begin the process of selling the team less than two weeks after their triumph in Super Bowl LX. It will be the dawn of a new age for the Seahawks, and that means plenty of unknowns will be on the horizon. But there is one “unknown” that is actually closer to being a “known” and the 12th Man should be aware of it: no, the team is not going to relocate.
I get it, I really do. The trauma inflicted by the SuperSonics leaving town is still an open wound, and it will remain as such until the NBA finally brings an expansion back team to the Emerald City. I also understand the concerns some fans have over this proposed “millionaire tax” that seems to be on the fast track to becoming law in Washington, which would theoretically make it appealing for a new owner to move the team to a more business-friendly state. But the NFL of 2026 is a far different beast than the NBA of 2006. These are night and day different scenarios.
First off, the Seattle-Tacoma media market is the 13th largest in the country. All twelve above them have at least one NFL team, as do five of the next seven after them to round out the top 20. The Seahawks are the only team for four states, and are the team with considerable viewership interest from our friends in Alaska and even British Columbia. There is simply no way the NFL is going to willingly abandon their only presence in such a large region of the country.
Secondly, the Seahawks are one of the league’s most successful franchises since the last division re-alignment in 2002. They are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for most Super Bowl appearances from an NFC team, and most playoff wins by any squad – trailing only the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. If the Seahawks were a largely irrelevant team, then maybe a new owner mi…. no, wait, that’s not true either. In the mid-90’s, then-owner Ken Behring attempted to move the team to southern California, and the NFL basically forced him to sell the franchise. And that’s when the Seahawks had only one division title and four playoff appearances to their name!
Not to mention the Seahawks still have a lease with Lumen Field through 2031, with three ten-year options to extend their tenure in the stadium. Lumen Field will also be getting roughly $20 million in upgrades this year to meet FIFA World Cup standards.
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So rest easy, 12’s. The boogieman of Clay Bennett is not going to return. A punitive tax from the state also isn’t likely to scare away any mega-billionaires looking to purchase the Seahawks. The team is going to be in the Emerald City for years to come.