New Washington tax law could affect Seahawks, Schneider says

"There were a bunch of agents texting me the other day like, 'Hey, can't use that anymore, buddy.' 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."

"The so-called 'millionaire tax' will impose a 9.9% tax on annual income of more than $1 million beginning in 2028. 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."

"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 state's income tax."

Washington state passed its first-ever income tax, imposing a 9.9% tax on annual income exceeding $1 million beginning in 2028. The Seahawks have previously leveraged Washington's no-income-tax status as a recruiting advantage against teams in high-tax states like California. General Manager John Schneider expressed concern that this tax will negatively impact the team's ability to attract free agents. The Seahawks join seven other NFL teams in no-income-tax states. NFL agents offered mixed perspectives on the tax's impact, with some viewing it as problematic while others noted that teams in high-tax states like California and New York still successfully recruit top talent.

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