NFL Rumors: Insider claims Seattle Seahawks could be sold as early as 2024

Could the Seattle Seahawks be the next NFL team to be sold? According to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, the Seahawks could be the next team on the auction block, with a sale occurring as early as 2024.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Irsay said the death of former Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen could hasten the team's sale.

“Seattle, with Paul Allen, my friend, unfortunately passing away, and that team is in a trust, is going to become available, I’d imagine, in the 2024 range.”

Irsay also said that he believes that some of the possible owners who were trying to buy the Denver Broncos may jump at the opportunity to buy Seattle. But he feels the rising valuations of professional sports organizations make it difficult to find an owner.

"I know where franchise values are going. And one thing we do know is there’s a high interest out there for people that fell short of the Broncos. There’s some really great people that are capable but the problem now is finding people that have the net worth that can actually buy a team. It’s very difficult."

Seattle is currently owned by Jody Allen, Paul Allen's sister, who acquired the team after his death in 2018. According to a 1997 referendum, if the team is sold before May 2, 2024, then the team would have to pay 10% of the proceeds to the state of Washington.

Jody Allen said this past summer that the team wasn't currently for sale, but would be sometime in the future, giving a 10 to 20-year estimate.

"As we've stated before, neither of the teams is for sale and there are no sales discussions happening. A time will come when that changes given Paul's plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy, but estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down."

The Denver Broncos were the most recent NFL team to be sold. Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, purchased the team in June for $4.65 billion.

Could Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who is said to be interested in purchasing an NFL team, be a potential owner of the Seattle Seahawks?

When did Paul Allen buy the Seattle Seahawks?

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen purchased the Seattle Seahawks in 1997 from Ken Behring for $200 million. Allen invested his own money into making the necessary improvements and upgrades to the now named Lumen Field.

In 2014, the year Seattle won Super Bowl XLVIII, the team's value was assessed at over $1 billion.

Allen also bought the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988 for $70 million. He also became a part of the ownership group for Seattle Sounders FC in 2009.