For the first time in 24 seasons, the Commanders will no longer be owned by Dan Snyder after the NFL owners voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the sale of the team to the Josh Harris Group for $6.05 billion, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Harris, who co-owns the 76ers and the Devils, is joined by NBA legend Magic Johnson and David Blitzer of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment in the ownership group. The sale is officially the highest record price for an NFL team in league history.
Harris released a statement via the team shortly after the announcement.
“As a lifelong Washington football fan who grew up here, I know that the Commanders are more than just a sports team,” Harris said. “This is an institution, passed down from generation to generation. From day one, it is our top priority to deliver you a championship caliber team, and we will strive everyday to ensure that we are a franchise you can be proud of. To Commanders fans everywhere, our promise is simple: We will do the work, create the culture and make the investment needed to deliver for this team and for Washington.”
Approved and expected to close shortly ✅
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 20, 2023
A message from Josh Harris ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/DcZisMAzKM
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also released a statement about the vote.
News from @nfl345 pic.twitter.com/veIRFuY56k
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) July 20, 2023
The Commanders first went on the market back in November 2022 after longtime owners Dan and Tanya Snyder hired Bank of America to explore a possible sale. That announcement came after a Dec. 8 report from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform implicated Snyder in perpetuating “a toxic workplace culture by ignoring and downplaying sexual misconduct” within the organization.
The NFL hired attorney Mary Jo White to investigate the Snyders and the Commanders franchise beginning in Feb. 2022. The NFL released her findings on Thursday immediately following the announcement of the owners’ vote, resulting in a $60 million fine for Snyder.
NFL released the findings of the independent investigation conducted by former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White into allegations of misconduct and financial improprieties made by former employees of the Washington Commanders. The NFL statement: pic.twitter.com/lLQeJTr566
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2023
The Snyders’ tenure ends with the team having six playoff appearances (none of which resulted in a trip to the NFC championship), two playoff wins, 10 head coaches, 27 starting quarterbacks and an overall .427 winning percentage.
