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Statement on Agreement to Sell the Seattle Seahawks -- Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer

July 11, 2026

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, who played a pivotal role in brokering the 1997 sale of the Seattle Seahawks to Paul Allen and helping keep the franchise in Seattle, released the following statement Saturday regarding the agreement to sell the team to the Khosla ownership group:

"When the Seattle Seahawks entered the NFL, the Nordstrom family established a culture of excellence and a deep commitment to the team, its fans, and our community. During the Behring years, many feared that legacy would be lost. I was proud to help bring Paul Allen into Seahawks ownership in 1997, and his leadership rekindled the values that made this franchise so special.

“After speaking with friends at Stanford and others who have worked closely with the Khosla family, I am confident they understand what this franchise means to our region and will continue the tradition of commitment to winning established by the Nordstrom family and carried forward by the Allen family.

“If you ask anyone in Silicon Valley who has worked with the Khosla family, they will tell you they bring the same tradition of excellence that the Nordstrom family started this franchise with and that the Allen family continued. The trust fulfilled its responsibility by securing the highest bidder, and the Seahawks got what I believe are the best of the prospective owners.

“The Seahawks have always been about more than football. They are a source of regional pride and an institution that brings our community together. I am optimistic the Khosla family will honor that legacy and build on it for generations of Seahawks fans."