Samwise NFL Newsletter
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Seattle Seahawks Sold to Vinod Khosla Group for NFL-Record $9.6 Billion
The Seattle Seahawks have been sold to a group led by tech billionaire Vinod Khosla for $9.6 billion, shattering the previous NFL franchise sale record. Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, emerged from a two-group bidding process for the reigning Super Bowl champions. The deal awaits ratification from at least 24 of 32 NFL owners, with a vote scheduled for August 26. The Seahawks, who defeated the New England Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX last February, become the most expensive franchise ever sold in league history. The Washington Commanders’ $6.05 billion sale in 2023 previously held the record.
Sources: CBS Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Acrisure Stadium to Replace Nearly 18,000 More Seats in Latest Upgrade Phase
The Pittsburgh Steelers are replacing nearly 18,000 more seats at Acrisure Stadium, the latest phase of a long-running renovation project at the 25-year-old venue. The seats — all in the lower level on the stadium’s east end — will cost $5.8 million, with 85 percent yellow and 15 percent gray, each anchored with stainless steel hardware. Stadium concrete will also be repaired before the new seating is installed. This phase follows an earlier replacement of more than 22,000 seats approved last October. When complete, the project will have refreshed more than 58,000 of the stadium’s roughly 68,000 seats, with a third and final phase expected in 2027.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Falcons Aim to Name Starting QB ‘Weeks’ Before Season; Tua Leading Penix in Camp
The Atlanta Falcons want to settle their quarterback competition “weeks” before the season opener, according to new quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. The battle pits incumbent Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from a partially torn ACL suffered last fall, against veteran free agent addition Tua Tagovailoa. Penix has yet to be fully cleared to participate, giving Tagovailoa a head start on first-team reps during the offseason program. Falcons officials insist it remains a legitimate open competition, but with veterans reporting for training camp roughly four weeks before the regular season opener, Penix faces a narrow window to make up ground.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Dolphins Sign Malik Willis as QB1 Candidate, But Won’t Rule Out 2027 Draft QB
The Miami Dolphins have signed Malik Willis to a contract with $45 million in guaranteed money, making him the favorite to start at quarterback in 2026 — but that won’t prevent Miami from drafting a top QB next spring if he falls short. Per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, the guaranteed salary will not deter the team from selecting a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft if Willis fails to produce wins. Willis, 27, a former Titans third-round pick who spent two seasons backing up Jordan Love in Green Bay, has just six career NFL starts. He still must beat out Quinn Ewers in competition for the starting role.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Mark Sanchez Trial Delayed to September 8 for Fifth Time
Former NFL quarterback and Fox broadcaster Mark Sanchez will stand trial September 8 — one day before the 2026 NFL season opener — after proceedings were delayed for the fifth time. The charges stem from an October 4, 2025 altercation in downtown Indianapolis, where Sanchez was in town to call a Colts-Raiders game for Fox and allegedly confronted Perry Tole, a 69-year-old truck driver collecting cooking oil outside the Westin Hotel, in a dispute over parking. Security footage and police reports showed Sanchez as the aggressor before Tole pepper-sprayed and then stabbed him. Sanchez faces felony battery and three misdemeanor charges.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Study: NFL Players Nearly Four Times More Likely to Die of Neurodegenerative Disease
A major new study found that NFL players are nearly four times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than the general population, including 3.8 times more likely to die of all-cause dementia and 3.88 times more likely to die of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation examined nearly 20,000 former players who competed between 1960 and 2019. The study, published in eClinicalMedicine, also found that players with five or more seasons faced nearly double the neurodegenerative mortality risk compared to those who played one to four years. Players overall showed lower all-cause mortality than the general population.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
American Conference
AFC East
Buffalo Bills — 0–0–0
Miami Dolphins — 0–0–0
New England Patriots — 0–0–0
New York Jets — 0–0–0
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens — 0–0–0
Cincinnati Bengals — 0–0–0
Cleveland Browns — 0–0–0
Pittsburgh Steelers — 0–0–0
AFC South
Houston Texans — 0–0–0
Indianapolis Colts — 0–0–0
Jacksonville Jaguars — 0–0–0
Tennessee Titans — 0–0–0
AFC West
Denver Broncos — 0–0–0
Kansas City Chiefs — 0–0–0
Las Vegas Raiders — 0–0–0
Los Angeles Chargers — 0–0–0
2026 season not yet started
Regular season opens September 9, 2026
National Conference
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys — 0–0–0
New York Giants — 0–0–0
Philadelphia Eagles — 0–0–0
Washington Commanders — 0–0–0
NFC North
Chicago Bears — 0–0–0
Detroit Lions — 0–0–0
Green Bay Packers — 0–0–0
Minnesota Vikings — 0–0–0
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons — 0–0–0
Carolina Panthers — 0–0–0
New Orleans Saints — 0–0–0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 0–0–0
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals — 0–0–0
Los Angeles Rams — 0–0–0
San Francisco 49ers — 0–0–0
Seattle Seahawks — 0–0–0
Training camps open July 22, 2026
Hall of Fame Game: Cardinals vs. Panthers — Aug. 6
Curated by JD · samwise.agency