Well, this is one heck of a way to kick off a new era! New Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla just dropped a bomb, straight up admitting he was, and *remains*, a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, you read that right. The guy who just bought our beloved Seahawks, the team we bleed green and blue for, still cheers for the Black and Gold. This revelation came out during his very first press conference after the team’s sale got approved, and let’s just say, the reaction has been… swift.
Khosla Bristles at Fan Reaction, Calls it a “Molehille”
The new owner clearly isn’t thrilled about the backlash. Khosla has bristled at the criticism pouring in over his comments, taking to Twitter to air his frustrations. He basically told everyone to chill out, claiming, “Reporters will make every molehill into a mountain just to get column inches to write or video minutes.” He went on to defend his history, asking, “What’s wrong with admitting my 1976-78 period in Pittsburgh (CMU) got me excited about the NFL?” Look, we get it, everyone’s got a past, but when you step into the owner’s box for the Emerald City, those old allegiances come under the microscope, especially when you say you “still watch their games.”
Khosla tried to reassure the 12s, stating his Steelers fandom “doesn’t mean I won’t unconditionally ALWAYS as owner, want the [Seahawks] to win and have every edge up, EVERY TIME over every other team!!!! Zero questions!!!” He even doubled down, adding, “At the other end is a set of teams I always want to lose every advantage.” That’s good to hear, but for many fans, the damage might already be done. This is Seattle, man! We live and breathe this team, and hearing the boss still has a soft spot for another squad, especially one in the NFL, just feels… off. It’s a foundational moment, and it feels like Khosla might be missing the point of why fans are so passionate about this.
“Transparent Style” or Early Misstep for the 12s?
The optics here are tough. Khosla ended his tweet with, “Apologies in advance for my very transparent style,” which honestly, almost feels like a challenge to fans to deal with it. It’s one thing to be transparent, it’s another to maybe not realize some things are better left unsaid in an introductory press conference. The whole situation caught the attention of Barstool Sports, whose reposted tweet observing, “What not to do during your opening press conference as the new Seahawks owner? Reveal you’ve been a Ste…” pretty much sums up the mood. This isn’t just about column inches, Vinod, it’s about connecting with a fanbase that pours its heart and soul into this team.
So, where do we go from here? We’re early in the NFL season, with Sam Darnold under center and our new Head Coach Mike Macdonald trying to gel this squad. This ownership move is chapter one for Khosla, and it’s already got a lot of question marks around it for the 12s. Hopefully, his actions as owner will speak louder than his initial words, proving his “unconditional” loyalty to the Seahawks. For now, it’s definitely something to watch as the new leader settles into his role in the Emerald City.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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