Roger Goodell spoke to the media on the opening night of Super Bowl 60. The annual pre-Super Bowl press conference allows reporters to discuss a wide range of topics with the commissioner. A $5 million fine for the Seattle Seahawks was at the heart of one of the questions, but Goodell denied that it happened.
Roger Goodell Denies Seahawks’ $5 Million Fine For Ownership Issues
A recent Wall Street Journal report said the Seahawks were fined by the league for their ownership structure failing to comply with the league’s bylaws. Speaking to reporters on Monday (02), Goodell was asked about the report.
And he quickly denied the fine. While he acknowledged a few challenges regarding the ownership since the 2018 passing of Paul Allen, the former owner of the franchise, he instantly noted that the fine mentioned in the article was “not true”.
Reports from ESPN last week indicated that the Seattle Seahawks, who are set to play in Super Bowl 60 against the New England Patriots, were expected to be put up for sale after the final. However, a spokesperson for the Allen Estate also denied the report:
“We don’t comment on rumours or speculation, and the team is not for sale. We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but there is no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.”
Jody, Allen’s sister, has been responsible for both franchises since her brother’s passing in 2018. The Portland Trail Blazers reached an agreement with a group led by Tom Dundon to sell the franchise for over $4 billion. The agreement was reached in August 2025, but the full process is expected to be completed in 2026.
READ MORE: Top 100 2026 NFL Free Agent Rankings
Goodell, on his part, acknowledged that the franchise is expected to be sold at some point, with the proceeds from the deal donated to philanthropy. But with the Seahawks set to play in their first Super Bowl since 2014, avoiding distractions before one of the biggest games in their history is important.
The commissioner also praised Jody’s leadership of the franchise. At the end of his answer, though, Goodell did not waste an opportunity to apply pressure on a future sale of the team.
He said, “Jody is doing a great job of managing the team. A great job. They’re in the Super Bowl. I think from that standpoint, they’ve done a really important job in the context of the trust and the execution of that. But eventually, the team will need to be sold in accordance with that.”
The Seahawks will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
