• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 5, 2025

Josh Harris Unanimously Approved as Next Owner of Commanders

  • NFL owners approve Harris’ $6.05B purchase of Washington at a special meeting.
  • The NFL levies $60 million fine on Dan Snyder after league released findings in Mary Jo White investigation.
Josh Harris
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Dan Snyder era is officially over. 

NFL owners voted unanimously to approve Josh Harris’ $6.05 billion purchase of the Washington Commanders at a special meeting on Thursday. 

The vote effectively closes the most expensive transaction for a sports franchise ever — and, in turn, ends Snyder’s 24-year run that produced more controversies than success. Just as the NFL confirmed the results of the vote, the league announced it had levied a $60 million fine and released the findings from the Mary Jo White investigation.

“Obviously, it was a long process,” Harris said following the vote. “Sometimes that’s what happens. We’re very excited to get to work and to start the new era of Washington football. We are humbled and awed by the level of responsibility that we have to take care of the city and to win championships. and really to excite the fans again.”

Harris needed at least 24 votes for approval; he received all 32, including from Dan Snyder’s longtime lawyer, Norm Chirite, who represented Snyder here.

Harris, the managing owner of the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers, enters with 20 limited partners — four under the NFL limit. The co-owners include David Blitzer — Harris’ partner with the Devils and 76ers — along with billionaire Mitchell Rales, Magic  Johnson, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and security firm exec Mark Ein. 

Harris now has full control of the franchise that — despite the record purchase price — needs a lot of work through a mix of neglect and controversies under Snyder. Harris grew up just outside D.C. in Maryland where he rooted for the Commanders as did Rales and others in the ownership group.

“One of my first memories as a child was walking down East Capitol Street to RFK Stadium, [and] hearing the roar of the crowd and feeling the rumble,” Harris said. “I grew up watching Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, Joe Theismann, Mark Rypien , Doug Williams, The Hogs, Joe Gibbs, Darryl Green and the three Super Bowls.

“But being a fan is not enough to be successful. We understand that we need to win championships, create a positive impact on the community, and create incredible memories and great experiences for our fan base.”

At the top of the list is seeking a new stadium to replace FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Johnson met with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in the spring as part of that effort. However, a potential move back to D.C. or Northern Virginia could be in the offing. 

In a statement released Thursday after the vote made Harris’ purchase official, Moore said in a statement that his administration “has already put forward major economic and transportation investments near FedEx Field along the Blue Line Corridor, which includes $400 million in state funding.”

“Maryland is excited to welcome this new leadership group and looks forward to working together on a vision for the next generation of Commanders football,” Moore’s statement continued.

Snyder put the team on the market in November, and it took several weeks before it became clear he was going to offload the entire franchise e led an ownership group to purchase for $800 million in 1999. 

Harris and Snyder came to a final agreement in May, and the NFL finance committee was comfortable enough with the deal to schedule Thursday’s vote last month. 

At this hotel attached to Mall of America nearly a year ago, the last NFL team Harris bid on changed hands at a special meeting. Walmart heir Rob Walton outmaneuvered Harris to acquire the Denver Broncos for a $4.65 billion purchase. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
exclusive

PGA Tour Slashes FedEx Cup Winner Pay From $25M to $10M

The FedExCup is reworking how it distributes its bonus money.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”
July 2, 2025

NHL to Rejoin Olympic Ice in Milan—and NBC Set to Cash In

NHL players last competed in the Olympics in 2014.
Michael Johnson
July 3, 2025

Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million: Source

The new track league hasn’t paid athletes in full yet.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Sophie Cunningham
July 2, 2025

WNBA Expansion Decisions Show League Prioritizes North, NBA Ties

One player ripped the league for its geographic choices.
Red Panda
July 2, 2025

Red Panda Hospitalized After WNBA Halftime Fall

The beloved performer was taken off the court in a wheelchair.
July 1, 2025

WNBA Roster Limits Under Fire After Vanloo’s Valkyries Release

Kaitlyn Chen remains on the Valkyries roster.
July 1, 2025

LIV Golf CEO Pushes Back On PGA Tour Merger

Scott O’Neil said there could be new opportunities for the Tour’s players.