The Seattle Seahawks will see their Super Bowl winnings be deducted heavily (Image: Getty)
The Seattle Seahawks are set to lose at least £2.6million in tax after their Super Bowl LX victory. The NFC West team dominated the New England Patriots on Sunday night, winning 29-13 to secure their second Vince Lombardi trophy.
The Seahawks kept their rivals scoreless for three quarters before scoring two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes, securing their first Super Bowl ring since 2013. Quarterback Sam Darnold had a remarkable season, culminating in an error-free performance in Super Bowl LX and his first Lombardi trophy. Fans have been curious about the bonus each player will receive for winning the championship.
It’s believed that each of the 53 Seahawks players will receive a bonus of around £130,000 for their victory. However, this additional income will be heavily taxed, which could dampen their financial celebrations.
Tax consultant Ashley Akin, with eight years of accounting experience, has revealed how much each player stands to lose.
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Akin said: “Players on the winning team get a special bonus for winning the Super Bowl. That bonus in 2026 is £130,000 for each player. That is extra money on top of their regular paycheck. They also get a ring for winning the Super Bowl, which can be worth between £21,900 and £36,500, and that is usually paid by the team.
The Seattle Seahawks will be taxed millions (Image: Getty)
“When it comes to all bonuses, some players can earn more than £255,000 just from prizes during the playoffs.”
However, Akin pointed out that the bonus is classified as regular income. This means that federal tax is levied on it, which can reach up to 37%.
Clarifying the tax deduction, she said: “For players with high income, this can be up to 37%. Besides that, state taxes are also paid. Since Super Bowl 2026 is played in California, players can also pay tax to that state, which is very high for high incomes. Some states also have a special tax for athletes who play games in their territory.
“When all of this is added together, from a bonus of £130,000 a player often keeps around £65,700 to £80,300 . The exact payment amount that players must pay depends on their home address and their tax circumstances and their eligible deduction choices.”
Sam Darnold isn’t too fussed about being taxed (Image: Getty)
This means each player will probably forfeit at least £49,700, totalling £2.6m for the entire 53-man squad. One individual who won’t be troubled by such taxation is Darnold, who acknowledges the faith shown in him by the team enabled him to reach the grand stage.
He said: “My teammates and my coaches, they believed in me. Since the first training camp, every single day we came to work. Shoutout to our offensive line for everything they did in the game. But I’ve also got to shout out our defence.
“We did it. It’s been such a special journey with these guys. So much hard work has been out into this and we did it.”
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is likely to be overlooking the tax implications of his earnings, expressing gratitude for his championship victory. He added: “First and foremost I want to thank God for this.
“It’s a blessing to be here. I want to thank my brothers, this doesn’t happen without them.
“We went through a lot of adversity this season but we came together, stuck together and this is what we got. Shout out to the 12s!”