Posted on 03/13/2026 2:06:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said he believes Washington state's new income tax on high earners will eventually have a negative impact on the team's ability to sign free agents.
Lawmakers this week passed Washington's first income tax. The so-called "millionaire tax" will impose a 9.9% tax on annual income of more than $1 million beginning in 2028. Gov. Bob Ferguson has already pledged to sign the bill, though it could still be challenged.
The Seahawks have been one of eight NFL teams that play in states with no income tax, along with the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
That has been part of the Seahawks' pitch to prospective free agent signings.
"There were a bunch of agents texting me the other day like, 'Hey, can't use that anymore, buddy,'" Schneider said Thursday on his Seattle Sports 710-AM radio show. "I think it is for all the pro teams here in town. It's always been a huge attraction, especially competing with the California teams. It's been a big deal for us. So, it's going to sting, from a recruiting standpoint and what that looks like. I'm sure Mike Reinfeldt and Mickey Loomis and all the cap guys that have been here before, too, are looking at this like, dang.
"It's going to sting, no question about it."
NFL agents polled by ESPN had differing opinions on how much the tax will impact the Seahawks.
"It's going to be a problem and hopefully it doesn't happen," one agent responded.
Another agent said he doesn't think the tax will hurt the Seahawks in free agency, noting that two of their division rivals -- the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers -- still land targeted free agents despite California's much higher income tax. The agent also cited the New York Jets, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings as teams that tend to be unaffected in free agency by their states' income tax.
That agent said states with no income tax or lower rates are a bonus but that it doesn't tend to be a deciding factor for players, and that the ones in position to command big money in free agency will still opt for the best deals.
Another agent believes the tax will be a factor for free agents but said they still evaluate offers by their total dollar amount relative to peers at their position.
A different agent said there's "no chance" he'd want to pay nearly 10% in taxes if he were a player in position to sign a lucrative contract, though he noted that this won't come into play until 2028 and thus it won't be a factor in the meantime.
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They tax everything else.
Hello San Antonio Skyhawks. Or Utah Skyhawks.
Remember when the Oakland Raider were moving to San Antonio?
Trojan horse scheme against the middle class. In two years the million dollar figure will be $200K.
The Coeur d’Alene Seahawks
eh
But it does sound better than the Hammond Bears
I prefer the San Antonio Gunslingers...
No income tax in Wa. No sales tax on Oregon right. Just live on the border.
Spokane, Idaho, Seahawks. Oops, did they take the entire Western part of Washington with them?
Affordability.
Same issue potentially for Settle Mariners (MLB) and Seattle Kraken (NHL) Still 10% is better that Kalifornia’s 14.4%
Washington was a solidly Republican state into the 80s
There are more in the category in Washington at the top end:
NFL: Seattle Seahawks
MLB: Seattle Mariners
NHL: Seattle Kraken
MLS: Seattle Sounders FC
WNBA: Seattle Storm
MLR: Seattle Seawolves
WHL: Seattle Thunderbirds
And what are they going to do with education facilities like Udub, Gonzaga, Western state, Washington State in the east, and all the other facilities that make that money to support their sports teams. And what happens to the college professors that are in the category? Bye bye?
What is going to become of businesses like Microsoft, Boeing, and the new influx of Amazon that are building new warehouses with 40 currently active and more expansion of huge facilities in Pasco and Pullman? There are over 90K jobs attached to this. Some times it’s better to want than to have.
wy69
CALIF TRIED TO SIGN A PITCHER FROM ARIZ——
PLAYER DECLINED-—WOULD HAVE TO PAY 13.3% INCOME TAX.
Yeah that’s crazy.
Send the Seahawks to give a visit to the governor.
San Antonio Toros
(team from the 1960’s)
This will end up at the Supreme Court. The state constitution needs to be amended to change the current tax system in the state. The state Supreme Court has shot these “laws” down several times already
Liberals ruin everything!
Just think of the rivalry between the Bucs, the Fins and the Jags...
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