The NFL world is buzzing with the possibility that Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO with a net worth north of $200 billion, could become the next owner of the Seattle Seahawks. But the reaction from fans has been anything but unanimous.
According to a report from Front Office Sports, Zuckerberg is among a handful of potential bidders for the franchise, which was put up for sale after the team's Super Bowl victory. The Seahawks could fetch between $8 billion and $10 billion, making it one of the most expensive sports team sales in history.
Zuckerberg isn't the only tech titan in the mix. Apple CEO Tim Cook is also reportedly weighing an offer. The two billionaires join a list of rumored suitors that includes other high-profile names, though the identities of some bidders remain unclear.
However, while the financial firepower is undeniable, the court of public opinion is sharply divided. Social media erupted with reactions ranging from skepticism to outright mockery.
One fan joked, “Welcome to Tim Apple Stadium, home of the 12th man. Here you can see the 12th man mascot through your Meta VR glasses under your seat. Also beer is $40.” Another quipped, “Zuck wants to do some sportswashing Saudi style. Didn’t work out when he cosplayed as an mma fighter.” A more pointed critique read, “If Mark Zuckerberg plans to run the Seahawks like Facebook, Seattle is in trouble because the Facebook product is trash.”
Not everyone is convinced the interest is real. Puck reporter Dylan Byers cast doubt on the reports, writing, “Mark Zuckerberg isn’t considering a bid for the Seahawks. … He may be invested in a fund that’s putting forward a bid… but that’s a very different thing … I assume same true for Tim Cook.” That distinction could be crucial, as it suggests Zuckerberg might be a passive investor rather than a hands-on owner.
The sale process is being handled by the bank Allen & Co., representing the Paul G. Allen estate. Representatives for both the bank and the estate declined to comment, while Meta and Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
If Zuckerberg does emerge as a serious bidder, he would join a growing list of tech billionaires in sports ownership—a trend that has already reshaped the NBA, MLS, and now the NFL. But the question remains: Would Seahawks fans embrace a Facebook founder as their team's boss? For now, the answer is a resounding maybe.
For more on this developing story, check out Zuckerberg Eyes Seahawks: Tech Billionaire in Mix for NFL Ownership. And for other sports news that's splitting fans, read about Bubba Wallace's Post-Race Honesty Splits NASCAR Nation After Talladega Wreck.
