September 9, 2026 • 9 mins
The Khosla Family now owns the Seattle Seahawks, and hours before the team’s first game of 2026 against the Patriots, new team Owner Neil Khosla - Vinod and Neeru’s son - joins Dave Softy Mahler to talk about the buying process of the team, the level of involvement he and the family will have in operations, the community, and future plans.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now back to Softie and Dick, brought to you by
Emerald Queen Casino, bringing you the best in live music, entertainment, dining,
and gaming. Whether it's your favorite games, food, concerts, MMA,
or professional boxing, it's all at Emerald Queen Casino, always entertaining.
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Speaker 2 (00:20):
All right, we're back at Jimmy's. We're getting closer, under
an hour away from Seahawks Patriots. Kevin Harlan joins us
at 5 o'clock. He'll be on the call tonight for
Westwood 1 with Kurt Warner.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
We got a lot more to get to.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The postgame show as well coming up tonight after the
game with Dick and Hugh. But today was also a
big day for the ownership group, the Kosla family. Vinod, Niru,
and Neil all announcing today their intentions with the football team.
They had about a 45-minute press conference. Dick over at
Lumen Field this afternoon announcing they're bringing back the white
(00:53):
throwback uniforms for 2011. It's been a whirlwind. I mean,
the process was incredibly fast. I think my dad talked
about that. Like, you know, I don't think we really knew.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
NFL assets are incredibly, anything NFL, like it could be
a shirt, it doesn't matter what it is, but if
it has the NFL on it, there's a lot of
people who want it. And so I don't think we
really knew this or believed this was.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
Going to happen.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Until late June, early July. And so from then to
be where we are today, it's just been like a whirlwind.
And I think I mentioned to somebody that we haven't
had a ton of contact in the process.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
With management.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
It's started to ramp up over the last couple weeks,
so even just getting a little bit more of that
and having the chance to talk to John and Mike
and Chuck and the rest of the executive team, we're
drinking out of.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
The fire hose right now. That's what it's been like,
but it's special. I think, I.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Was just saying to the group of reporters over there,
It's brought out a different side of my dad.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
In what way?
Speaker 4 (02:22):
He's not the effusive, smiley guy. He's a hard-nosed immigrant.
It's not his nature to be this happy and proud
of what he's accomplished. But I think this was really
one of those moments where he looks at, I came
to this country with nothing and like we're able to
be a part of this, it's just special. And my
(02:44):
sisters are here, and my whole family, my sister came
from Amsterdam, just to make the game, and it's special
for us.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
It's really an honor and it's a privilege.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, well, Neil Koestler with us. The story is phenomenal.
We'll learn more about that, obviously, as the years go by,
but I think the number one question that fans want
to know, how involved will you guys be? Will you
let John be John and Mike be Mike? Will you
be offering opinions on free agents and draft choices and
trade for this guy and go cut that guy? How
involved will this ownership in your family be in day-to-day
(03:16):
decisions for this football team?
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think that You know, my dad talked about it
in the press conference. I think our philosophy is just
ask good questions, be there, be a part.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Of the dialogue.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
But those guys have to make the decisions. I mean,
we don't know how to scout a safety.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Or, you know, an offensive lineman.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
And so, you know, we're there as a resource to them.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
We are very, very competitive. We want to win. The
best way to win is to let John.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
put the team together and let mike get them ready
to play on sundays like those two guys have proven
they know what they can do i i don't you
know we we'd be really dumb if we thought we
had something to to really change you know with that
that this this formula works and we we want to
win really badly yeah yeah well.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You'll fit right in that neil i think there's a
Anytime something new happens, there's always a fear of the unknown, right?
A lot of us did not know who you were,
who your mom and dad were until this transaction. So
when something new happens, people always wonder, will they want
a new stadium? Will they move the team down the road?
There is a little bit of scarring from the Sonics
from 2008, obviously, address those fans out there that just wonder...
(04:33):
Will they want a new stadium? Will they be asking
the community for money? Will they eventually, God forbid, want
to move this team out of Seattle?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, I mean, I think we've been very direct about
all those things.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
Like, we're here.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
We've invested in this team as a part of the
Seattle community. That's a big part of our decision. We
talked about this throughout the process a lot. It's like,
you're investing in a community... which community.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Do you want to be a part of?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
And I'm not going to name names, but we wouldn't
have done this in every community. And a big part
of it is this is close to where we live,
and so it allows us to set up a second
kind of home base here in Seattle and be members
of this community. I'm 33, so hopefully I'll be here
(05:27):
50 years from now. And, you know, everything else as
far as, you know, I was just talking to you
about how awesome this stadium is and this fan base
and this crowd.
Speaker 5 (05:40):
You know, Lumen is incredible.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
We are coming in with the mindset of, like, what
does management want to do and how do we, you know,
how do we help them go do that? We're not
looking at the stadium and saying, we need to go
do this or that, like, Obviously, it's just an incredible building,
and so we're excited to just be a part of
(06:07):
that going forward.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Neil, I think you said it right there, and it's
probably an obvious question because you mentioned you're 33. You're
the youngest of the three that we saw on the
table there, obviously. There's an assumption that some people have made,
and I'm one of them, I guess, that this will
eventually kind of be your thing. This will be your show.
Is that the way that the family and you are
(06:28):
kind of approaching this?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
I think you heard us talk about our philosophy, which is, like,
we do things as a family.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
We're very close.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
So... The idea that it's ever going to just be
one of us, I think, is false. I'm very close
to my sister. My dad talked about we talk every day.
I talk to all my sisters pretty much every day, too,
and my mom. My mom and I talk the most.
And so this will be a family thing for us
for now and for a long time.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
My nephew's here, and he's three months old. And so
he'll be a part of it, too.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Well, the last time you were here, to wrap it up,
was a playoff game, right?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
In this stadium?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Niners got destroyed.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Your then-beloved Niners.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Will there be any problems flipping the switch and rooting
for the Hawks against them the next time they play?
Speaker 5 (07:17):
We were financial investors.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Not emotional.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
We're all in on the Hawks, and.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
We're going to be riding and dying with this team.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Hey, great to meet you. Welcome to Seattle. We'll talk
to you on the road.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
Thank you, Safdie.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
All right, Neil Kosla from the Kosla family, who obviously
just bought the Seahawks, in case you didn't know. Somebody
driving around going, who the hell is that guy? He
is going to be one of the new owners of
your Seattle Seahawks, and I think down the road will
be pretty much the face of this entire thing. He
talked about being in the stands last year for the
Niner game.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
You see the photo, by the way, Dick?
Speaker 6 (07:55):
Yeah, of him as dad.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
He looks pretty ticked off. Yeah, Nehru was there as well.
All three of them were there.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
For that game. You see that right there, his dad
eating some pizza.
Speaker 6 (08:04):
Dad's eating nachos or pizza or something.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well, he's just hanging out in the stands like a
regular schmuck.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Is that him right there?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
No, that's... No, right there. That's Vinod, and to his
left is.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
Yeah, he looks really upset that he's getting his ass
kicked by the Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
He is really bummed out. But you kind of like that, right?
Speaker 6 (08:18):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
That's how emotionally invested he is.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
In this thing and that first game with the Niners
is going to be a little weird I'm sure for
him and his family but look like I said I
like what I heard from these guys so far right
now there really is not.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
A lot to do we'll see what happens and we'll.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Judge them obviously by the moves that they make down
the road but it should not take away anything I
think from tonight's game.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
I have a zero percent fear that this team is moving.
Speaker 7 (08:45):
Zero. Now, I had a 0% fear before the sale,
but if there's a negative from basically what I've heard,
there's a negative percent chance they are going to be here,
they're going to be owners of these teams forever.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
They mentioned they've owned their house for like 40 years.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
I mean, they don't move around, and I think that
was a question you had to ask.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
And then the 49er question is another question you had
to ask. And I've got.
Speaker 7 (09:11):
Zero worries that a 49er fan bought the Seattle Seahawks.
If you were a Seahawks fan and you placed a
$ 9. 6 billion wager on the 49ers, you'd root for the 49ers.
I mean, he is massively invested in this football team.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Well, let's do this. We're going to break. We'll make
some predictions. Where will this thing go? Who's playing for
the championship? Who's going to win the AFC? The NFC,
what does this thing look like? And then Kevin Harlan
at five.
Now back to Softie and Dick, brought to you by
Emerald Queen Casino, bringing you the best in live music, entertainment, dining,
and gaming. Whether it's your favorite games, food, concerts, MMA,
or professional boxing, it's all at Emerald Queen Casino, always entertaining.
For more info, visit EmeraldQueen.com.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
All right, we're back at Jimmy's. We're getting closer, under
an hour away from Seahawks Patriots. Kevin Harlan joins us
at 5 o'clock. He'll be on the call tonight for
Westwood 1 with Kurt Warner.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
We got a lot more to get to.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The postgame show as well coming up tonight after the
game with Dick and Hugh. But today was also a
big day for the ownership group, the Kosla family. Vinod, Niru,
and Neil all announcing today their intentions with the football team.
They had about a 45-minute press conference. Dick over at
Lumen Field this afternoon announcing they're bringing back the white
(00:53):
throwback uniforms for 2011. It's been a whirlwind. I mean,
the process was incredibly fast. I think my dad talked
about that. Like, you know, I don't think we really knew.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
NFL assets are incredibly, anything NFL, like it could be
a shirt, it doesn't matter what it is, but if
it has the NFL on it, there's a lot of
people who want it. And so I don't think we
really knew this or believed this was.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
Going to happen.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Until late June, early July. And so from then to
be where we are today, it's just been like a whirlwind.
And I think I mentioned to somebody that we haven't
had a ton of contact in the process.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
With management.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
It's started to ramp up over the last couple weeks,
so even just getting a little bit more of that
and having the chance to talk to John and Mike
and Chuck and the rest of the executive team, we're
drinking out of.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
The fire hose right now. That's what it's been like,
but it's special. I think, I.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Was just saying to the group of reporters over there,
It's brought out a different side of my dad.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
In what way?
Speaker 4 (02:22):
He's not the effusive, smiley guy. He's a hard-nosed immigrant.
It's not his nature to be this happy and proud
of what he's accomplished. But I think this was really
one of those moments where he looks at, I came
to this country with nothing and like we're able to
be a part of this, it's just special. And my
(02:44):
sisters are here, and my whole family, my sister came
from Amsterdam, just to make the game, and it's special
for us.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
It's really an honor and it's a privilege.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, well, Neil Koestler with us. The story is phenomenal.
We'll learn more about that, obviously, as the years go by,
but I think the number one question that fans want
to know, how involved will you guys be? Will you
let John be John and Mike be Mike? Will you
be offering opinions on free agents and draft choices and
trade for this guy and go cut that guy? How
involved will this ownership in your family be in day-to-day
(03:16):
decisions for this football team?
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think that You know, my dad talked about it
in the press conference. I think our philosophy is just
ask good questions, be there, be a part.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Of the dialogue.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
But those guys have to make the decisions. I mean,
we don't know how to scout a safety.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Or, you know, an offensive lineman.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
And so, you know, we're there as a resource to them.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
We are very, very competitive. We want to win. The
best way to win is to let John.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
put the team together and let mike get them ready
to play on sundays like those two guys have proven
they know what they can do i i don't you
know we we'd be really dumb if we thought we
had something to to really change you know with that
that this this formula works and we we want to
win really badly yeah yeah well.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You'll fit right in that neil i think there's a
Anytime something new happens, there's always a fear of the unknown, right?
A lot of us did not know who you were,
who your mom and dad were until this transaction. So
when something new happens, people always wonder, will they want
a new stadium? Will they move the team down the road?
There is a little bit of scarring from the Sonics
from 2008, obviously, address those fans out there that just wonder...
(04:33):
Will they want a new stadium? Will they be asking
the community for money? Will they eventually, God forbid, want
to move this team out of Seattle?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, I mean, I think we've been very direct about
all those things.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
Like, we're here.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
We've invested in this team as a part of the
Seattle community. That's a big part of our decision. We
talked about this throughout the process a lot. It's like,
you're investing in a community... which community.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Do you want to be a part of?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
And I'm not going to name names, but we wouldn't
have done this in every community. And a big part
of it is this is close to where we live,
and so it allows us to set up a second
kind of home base here in Seattle and be members
of this community. I'm 33, so hopefully I'll be here
(05:27):
50 years from now. And, you know, everything else as
far as, you know, I was just talking to you
about how awesome this stadium is and this fan base
and this crowd.
Speaker 5 (05:40):
You know, Lumen is incredible.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
We are coming in with the mindset of, like, what
does management want to do and how do we, you know,
how do we help them go do that? We're not
looking at the stadium and saying, we need to go
do this or that, like, Obviously, it's just an incredible building,
and so we're excited to just be a part of
(06:07):
that going forward.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Neil, I think you said it right there, and it's
probably an obvious question because you mentioned you're 33. You're
the youngest of the three that we saw on the
table there, obviously. There's an assumption that some people have made,
and I'm one of them, I guess, that this will
eventually kind of be your thing. This will be your show.
Is that the way that the family and you are
(06:28):
kind of approaching this?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
I think you heard us talk about our philosophy, which is, like,
we do things as a family.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
We're very close.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
So... The idea that it's ever going to just be
one of us, I think, is false. I'm very close
to my sister. My dad talked about we talk every day.
I talk to all my sisters pretty much every day, too,
and my mom. My mom and I talk the most.
And so this will be a family thing for us
for now and for a long time.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
My nephew's here, and he's three months old. And so
he'll be a part of it, too.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Well, the last time you were here, to wrap it up,
was a playoff game, right?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
In this stadium?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Niners got destroyed.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Your then-beloved Niners.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Will there be any problems flipping the switch and rooting
for the Hawks against them the next time they play?
Speaker 5 (07:17):
We were financial investors.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Not emotional.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
We're all in on the Hawks, and.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
We're going to be riding and dying with this team.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Hey, great to meet you. Welcome to Seattle. We'll talk
to you on the road.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
Thank you, Safdie.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
All right, Neil Kosla from the Kosla family, who obviously
just bought the Seahawks, in case you didn't know. Somebody
driving around going, who the hell is that guy? He
is going to be one of the new owners of
your Seattle Seahawks, and I think down the road will
be pretty much the face of this entire thing. He
talked about being in the stands last year for the
Niner game.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
You see the photo, by the way, Dick?
Speaker 6 (07:55):
Yeah, of him as dad.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
He looks pretty ticked off. Yeah, Nehru was there as well.
All three of them were there.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
For that game. You see that right there, his dad
eating some pizza.
Speaker 6 (08:04):
Dad's eating nachos or pizza or something.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well, he's just hanging out in the stands like a
regular schmuck.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Is that him right there?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
No, that's... No, right there. That's Vinod, and to his
left is.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
Yeah, he looks really upset that he's getting his ass
kicked by the Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
He is really bummed out. But you kind of like that, right?
Speaker 6 (08:18):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
That's how emotionally invested he is.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
In this thing and that first game with the Niners
is going to be a little weird I'm sure for
him and his family but look like I said I
like what I heard from these guys so far right
now there really is not.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
A lot to do we'll see what happens and we'll.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Judge them obviously by the moves that they make down
the road but it should not take away anything I
think from tonight's game.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
I have a zero percent fear that this team is moving.
Speaker 7 (08:45):
Zero. Now, I had a 0% fear before the sale,
but if there's a negative from basically what I've heard,
there's a negative percent chance they are going to be here,
they're going to be owners of these teams forever.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
They mentioned they've owned their house for like 40 years.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
I mean, they don't move around, and I think that
was a question you had to ask.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
And then the 49er question is another question you had
to ask. And I've got.
Speaker 7 (09:11):
Zero worries that a 49er fan bought the Seattle Seahawks.
If you were a Seahawks fan and you placed a
$ 9. 6 billion wager on the 49ers, you'd root for the 49ers.
I mean, he is massively invested in this football team.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Well, let's do this. We're going to break. We'll make
some predictions. Where will this thing go? Who's playing for
the championship? Who's going to win the AFC? The NFC,
what does this thing look like? And then Kevin Harlan
at five.
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