Offering some context to previous reports regarding the two finalists that emerged to purchase the Seahawks – the winning group led by Vinod Khosla and the runner-up group led by Aditya Mittal – Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says the endgame of the competition became a genuine auction. A source with knowledge of the situation described it as an “extremely close” back-and-forth affair in which one side would submit a bid, the other side would top it, and so on, until Khosla’s $9.6 billion offer convinced Mittal to keep his paddle down.
According to Florio’s source, Khosla’s pursuit of the franchise was also aided by the fact that his wife, Neeru, will serve as the controlling owner (assuming the purchase is approved by league owners). That appealed to Jody Allen, who had been running the Seahawks since her brother, Paul, passed away in 2018. Paul purchased the club in 1997, and his will provided that the team must be sold and the proceeds donated to charity.
The league memo issued in the wake of the sale indicated the Khosla group had become the Seahawks’ “preferred buyer.” Speculatively, that could be because of Neeru Khosla’s status as the prospective controlling owner, though a spokesperson for Paul Allen’s estate did not confirm as much to Florio. The spokesperson simply said they had “nothing to share beyond the statement we released last week about reaching a sale agreement with the Khosla family.”
Four of the league’s 31 other teams are run by female controlling owners: the Colts (Carlie Irsay-Gordon), the Lions (Sheila Ford Hamp), the Saints (Gayle Benson), and the Titans (Amy Adams Strunk). Jody Allen had served in that capacity for roughly eight years, and Neeru Khosla is now poised to take her place.
While the Mittal group and Khosla group ultimately led the charge, at least six suitors showed interest in the Seahawks, and at least four of them made offers. As such, interest in the defending champs was stronger than some prior reports had suggested, with the $9.6 billion purchase price comfortably shattering the previous record for the sale of an NFL franchise ($6.05 billion, which was Josh Harris’ winning bid for the Commanders in 2023).
League ownership will convene on August 26 to determine whether to approve the sale. It presently does not appear as if approval is in doubt.
The more you learn about this group, you understand why the Allen’s chose thier bid. The new group is very similar in many ways. There is always a unknown, and the Allen family has been incredible for the team.
I could be wrong about this but it’s my understanding that Allen’s preference is actually irrelevant because the NFL rules state the highest bidder must be awarded ownership (upon a confirmation vote by league owners)
Not sure on that, but in the end the new owners submitted highest bid. I guess I shouldn’t have used word chose, but it does seem Allen’s are happy with winning bid and especially with the controlling owner choice. I think my main comment is I am becoming more comfortable with this new ownership if NFL approves.
I preferred the era when a single owner called all the shots but now it’s transformed into a bureaucracy where an owner surrounds him/herself with advisors who essentially look to find a scapegoat when the season circles the drain.
Its pretty much like that in life nw, business etc. Pass yhe blame. Besides your just mad they didnt take your bid. I know the feeling. I did that paper route for a year to earn enough to bid.
I’m sure we will have future opportunities to make bids as other teams go up for sale. Perhaps a paper route and lemonade stand could be your winning ticket.
G String car wash?
Pool the Pokeman cards together?
Was it former NFL player Blake Martinez who had the massive collection?
crosseyedlemon
I preferred the era when a single owner called all the shots
================
Having a single owner calling the shots leads to echo chamber thinking.
Dan Snyder, anyone?
/s
George Halas, Paul Brown and Al Davis had solid football knowledge whereas most of today’s owners have to rely heavily on advisors because their own football knowledge could fit in a tea cup.
The Khosla family is indeed an interesting read. Having foreign tech people run a US FB team is interesting, but both Neeru and her husband have top-tier intellects and seem like good people.
Referring to them as foreign tech people feels a little misleading, given that they’ve lived in the States more than 45 years and their tech interests are based here.
Florio is an idiot. I could read an article then say hey Jody picked the Colas because a woman was going to run the team. If the Allens are not responding they can’t or won’t rat me out. This has been Florios play since he ran his own site and suspended or booted you when you disagreed with him. It was way worse than this site used to be. One guy got booted because he said nobody wants to read about your fat no talent HS kids career. He was writing about them more than the NFL. OK a little embellishment but the guy was insufferable talking about his kid.
I really don’t care who runs the team. Just don’t run it into the ground or go cheap. Spend money to make mo ey. Let the pros do their jobs.
I think every comment I ever left on PFT that disagreed with Florio was deleted. None of them were offensive or personal. I doubt he was doing it personally though. He probably hired some flunky with instructions to delete anything was critical of him or his writing.
AI bots can do the flunky work now 🙂
He wrote her name on title so he could get a tax breaks/incentives & federal supplements since a minority women is the “owner.”
It’s all a big show.
Not how it works. You should do some research first on tax rules and Khosla philosophy on taxes.
The Khosla philosophy on what “The U.S Tax System” should or shouldn’t be is irrelevant.
A billionaire saying “tax the rich” is going to get more credit then saying “tax the poor.”
“…the winning group led by Vinod Khosla…”
Why didn’t she lead the wining bid then?
Hubby just wanted to buy wifey a birthday present?
His accountant told him to put anyone as the owner, his dog if he wanted, makes no difference either way in the eye of the U.S Government (not NFL)?
BS
Do some real research.
Did it, I gracefully bow out!
My dog just got his power downgraded.
I’m with ya..let’s bow out together. Not worth it. Have a good one!
His main reason doing it was it appealed to the Allen’s. Sure he will get tax breaks but not main reason. Allen’s approval and will help with ownership approval since it removes conflict of his 49er ownership as he us in that process.
Is crosseyedlemon comment to you more relevant to who gives his wife a b-day present than who The Allens “want?”
Allens may have “preferred” one group over the other but doesn’t the highest bid win?
Obviously this is the Boys Club we are taking about so they can/will do whatever they think is in their best interest.
So it all my be irrelevant in the end, highest bid, NFL likes one over the other, one group has a cooler dog than other, NFL will do whats best for them.
Don’t know how I feel about this family. Eitherway out of my control. Let’s hope they don’t ruin our beloved franchise…but if they do…at least we got that last run.
All for solid female leadeeship but I hope for the Seahawks’ good, the female president is a capable one. Business is business, hire or place the most qualified oerson, period. Good luck Seattle!
Why stop at owners? Let’s really shake up this boys club. I hear this Krouch gal can really sling it. Think of the history we could make!!