As the Seattle Seahawks gear up for their fourth-ever Super Bowl, few would have imagined that the build-up would be dominated by talk around their owner's future.
Seahawks chief Jody Allen has maintained a low-profile since taking over from her brother, Paul, back in 2018 but was recently thrust into the spotlight following a bombshell report which claimed she was being pressured to sell the franchise.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell later refuted the report's claims and insisted that Allen is under no pressure from the league. But fans remained intrigued.
To understand Allen's leadership of the Seahawks, one must understand her decades-long partnership with her late brother, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
Jody was an adviser to her older brother when he first considered purchasing the NFL side for $200 million in 1997, which she later took charge of following his death - along with his other assets such as NBA side, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Since assuming the role of Trustee and Chair in 2018, Jody has moved the Seahawks into a new era - culminating in the team's historic 14-3 run and an NFC Championship trophy in the 2025 season.
However, for the players, her presence is felt through the environment she provides rather than daily interaction. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV told the Daily Mail: 'She has created a great environment. She knows how she wants the team to go.
'In the past, Paul, he used to do a great job of that too. If there's a direction, I think she's relayed that message and the coaches have done a great job getting it to us.
'We don't get to see her too much. I saw her getting the trophy up the other week; that was pretty cool.'
Meanwhile, offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak explained that while he doesn't have a direct line to her, the resources she provides are unparalleled: 'At my level, no (I don't have much to do with her), she's dealing with the head coach.
'But I would say that we all know we have her support. If you've been to our building it's one of the most impressive places in the NFL. Our players have everything they need to be successful.'
However, the path to this success has not been without significant turbulence for Allen. Long before she hoisted the NFC trophy, Allen's reputation was tested by a series of explosive allegations.
In 2013, five of her former security guards accused her of sexual harassment and extensive unethical activity, including bribing customs officials to smuggle animal bones out of Africa and Antarctica.
The guards alleged a hostile work environment where Allen reportedly forced male employees to model swimsuits for her.
Perhaps even more damaging were claims of criminal conduct, including allegations that she directed staff to bribe officials to smuggle giraffe bones and penguin remains out of the countries in violation of international law.
While Vulcan Inc. - the investment and project management company she co-founded with brother Paul back in 1986 - denied these claims and eventually settled the lawsuits out of court, the episodes left a lasting mark on her public profile.
Meanwhile, her tenure in charge of NBA side, the Portland Trail Blazers, has similarly fallen under some scrutiny following a bombshell report back in 2022.
According to the New York Post, there was 'growing disarray behind the scenes' at the Trail Blazers - with one staffer alleging that Allen's 'toxic behavior' had spilled over into the management of the team.
They also alleged that Allen refused to talk to Damian Lillard - Portland's star player for over 10 seasons - despite his concerns over the way the team was run.
A source told the outlet: 'Damian wanted to sit down and have a conversation with Jody about the team and she didn't return his call. Then he tried to email her.
'Eventually she just never responded. When you own a team, there are critical key decisions to make and you should be the one involved in making the decisions.'
To some in Seattle, Jody remains so discreet she is almost a ghost in the hallways of the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Star running back Kenneth Walker III told the Daily Mail: 'I'm gonna be honest, I've never seen her before.'
Conversely, veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who joined the team for their recent championship push, sees a calculated aspect in her distance from the roster.
He notes that her trust in head coach Mike Macdonald is evident, telling the Daily Mail: 'It's been cool; she interacts mostly with Mike. She came out to training camps earlier this year but stays out of a lot of football stuff.
'You know she’s supportive of things happening and how we are operating. Seems like any time Mike has wanted to do something cool for us, she’s on board with it. No complaints there.'
As of early 2026, the question is no longer if she will sell, but when. Despite the Seahawks' current on-field brilliance, reports suggest the NFL is losing patience.
League rules generally require a team to be owned by an individual rather than a trust, and after several years of 'grace periods,' the pressure is mounting for Allen to liquidate the estate's sports assets to fulfill her brother's charitable wishes.
While the Paul G. Allen Estate has recently pushed back, stating 'the team is not for sale,' the completed sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in late 2025 is seen by many as the first falling domino.
With franchise value now estimated between $7 billion and $8 billion, NFL reportedly eager to finalize sale that would set new global record.
For Jody Allen, coming months will determine her final legacy: will she be remembered as steward who guided Seattle to its greatest heights or as controversial executive who held onto power until league forced her hand?