Tod Leiweke resigned as chief executive of the ownership firm that guides American football's Seattle Seahawks on Monday to become chief executive of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. Leiweke was chief executive of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Seahawks, the NBA Portland Trail Blazers and Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders. He oversaw billionaire Paul Allen's sports teams for seven years. He leaves to join an ice hockey club that was recently purchased by Jeff Vinik and features retired NHL legend Steve Yzerman and general manager. 'I'm sorry to see him go, but I know hockey is his first love,' Allen said. Leiweke, who came to the Seahawks in 2003 and helped them reach their first Super Bowl in 2006, negotiated the contract with first-year Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Leiweke, who previously worked with the NHL's Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, will stay at Vulcan until a replacement is named. 'We have strong management and coaching in place in Seattle and Portland and I know the teams are in good hands,' Leiweke said. Leiweke's brother Tim is president and chief executive of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the NHL Los Angeles Kings and the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS. 