What happened: A group led by San Francisco 49ers limited partner Vinod Khosla agreed to buy the Seattle Seahawks for $9.612 billion, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Seth Wickersham reported Saturday. Khosla joined the 49ers' ownership group in 2025, buying a 3.1 percent stake at a valuation topping $8.5 billion. Completing the Seahawks deal requires the Khosla family to relinquish that 49ers stake.
Why it matters: The price sets a record for an NFL franchise sale, topping the Washington Commanders' 2023 sale by 50 percent. Khosla would take over a Seahawks team entering the 2026 season as reigning Super Bowl champions and the 49ers' chief NFC West rival. The sale still needs owner approval before it's final.
By the numbers: Khosla's net worth is listed at $13.8 billion by Forbes, built partly through Khosla Ventures stakes in OpenAI, DoorDash and Instacart. The $9.612 billion price is roughly 50 times what Paul Allen paid for the Seahawks in 1997.
What to watch: Owners are set to hold a special meeting Aug. 26 to vote on ratifying the sale.