Jeff Bezos Won’t Bid on Washington Commanders

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will not bid on the Washington Commanders, a source with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports.

Bezos hired the sports banking firm Allen & Company to explore a bid for the team in February, and reps for the firm have monitored the bidding process in the weeks since. Ultimately, the world’s third-richest person decided not to bid on the Commanders. 

The revelation leaves the group headed by Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris as the only current contender for the team. 

FOS previously reported that Harris — who counts billionaire industrial firm co-founder Mitchell Rales and NBA legend Magic Johnson as part of his group — is the “only” legitimate bidder for the Commanders, with an offer between $5.5 billion and $6 billion. 

Amid multiple investigations and pressure applied by fellow NFL owners, Commanders owner Dan Snyder announced in November that the team was “exploring all options,” including a full franchise sale. Snyder purchased the Commanders for  $800 million in 1999.

A winning bidder is expected to be announced before the next NFL owners meeting, which begin May 22. While some speculated early in the process Snyder may ultimately decide to keep the franchise, sources have told FOS for weeks that outcome is highly unlikely.

There’s a feeling within Bezos’ camp that he has been used to push the bidding by others in the franchise to a higher level, the source said. 

Sources have consistently told FOS that Snyder was reluctant to sell to Bezos due to his ownership of The Washington Post, an outlet that exposed a toxic workplace environment that existed within the franchise.

Bezos, however, was not barred from bidding. One source told FOS that Bezos would have to pay a premium over the top bid by another finalist for the team.

Allen & Company declined comment when reached by FOS on Wednesday. 

Earlier in the day, Puck News reported that Bezos wasn’t “currently” expected to bid, but a source was more adamant to FOS: “Bezos is not bidding.”

Bezos’ apparent interest in the team goes back to before they became known as the Commanders.

An attorney for Bezos had talks with a banking firm about acquiring 40% of the team when three minority shareholders of the team sought to sell their stake, FOS reported in February 2021.