NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider highlighted a recent decision by Washington state lawmakers that he believes could pose problems as the reigning Super Bowl champions look to add players to sustain long-term success.
Washington’s long-standing status as a largely tax-free state will change in 2028 after lawmakers approved a “millionaires tax” that would impose a 9.9% rate on high-income earners.
The tax will apply to people who earn more than $1 million a year. Gov. Bob Ferguson has indicated he will sign the bill. It is unclear whether the legislation will face legal challenges. Schneider projected that the new tax deduction could hamper the Seahawks’ ability to recruit and ultimately sign free agents.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 24, 2026, in Indianapolis. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Schneider suggested that some of the team’s pitch toward free agents over the years has highlighted Washington’s tax breaks.
“There was a bunch of agents texting me the other day saying, ‘Hey, I can’t use that anymore, man,'” Schneider said this week on his Seattle Sports 710-AM radio show.
SEAHAWKS GM JOHN SCHNEIDER GOES VIRAL AFTER KENNETH WALKER III’S UNCOMFORTABLE CONTRACT TALK AT SUPER BOWL LX PARADE
“I think it is for all the pro teams here in town. It’s always been a big draw, especially competing with the California teams. It’s been a big deal for us. So it’s going to hurt, from a recruiting standpoint and what that looks like. I’m sure Mike Reinfeldt and Mickey Loomis and all the cap players who’ve been here before are also looking at this like, ‘Dang.'”
The Super Bowl LX trophy celebration at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026 in Seattle. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
As of 2026, the Seahawks are one of eight NFL clubs based in a state that does not impose income taxes on personal salaries.
Two of those teams, the Texans and Cowboys, are based in Texas, while three of those teams play home games in Florida: the Jaguars, Buccaneers and Dolphins. The Raiders moved from California to neighboring Nevada tax-free in 2020, while the Titans will open a multimillion-dome stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2027.
Seattle Seahawks helmets before a game between the Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Atlanta. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
“It’s going to be a problem, and hopefully it doesn’t happen,” an anonymous NFL agent told ESPN when asked about his thoughts on the potential impact the new taxes could have on the Seahawks.
While it is unclear whether the new taxes will influence NFL players’ decisions about signing with the Seahawks, one MLB player recently cited California’s higher tax rates in his decision to reject a deal with the San Diego Padres.
Merrill Kelly, who entered the free agent market after pitching in 10 games with the Texas Rangers in 2025, agreed to a deal last month to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kelly agreed to a two-year contract worth an estimated $40 million with the Diamondbacks, according to ESPN. Although the Padres offered a comparable three-year deal instead of two, California’s 13% tax rate on income over $1 million proved to be a key difference.
“I don’t think it’s any secret how much money they take out of your pocket when you go to California,” the right-hander said. “Disgusting territory.”
