This story appears in the August 2019 issue. Click here for a free subscription.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s $140 million contract extension will account for a big chunk of the team’s player expenses going forward, but the club appears financially healthy.
The value of the team is $2.6 billion, according to calculations by Forbes last September, based on the 2017 season. Player expenses were $220 million, a number likely to rise after Wilson signed the four-year extension, which makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Seahawks generated $413 million in revenue and $71 million in operating income in 2017.
They also extended their naming rights deal with CenturyLink through 2033. The $162 million deal is worth more than double the previous one, Forbes notes.
Forbes ranks the club the 16th most valuable in the NFL. At a valuation of $5 billion, the Dallas Cowboys remain the league’s most valuable team for the 12th straight year.
The Seahawks open the regular season Sept. 8 at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
