• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

NFL Finance Committee Meets as Commanders Sale Progresses

  • Josh Harris’ $6.05B deal to purchase the Commanders has been reviewed by the NFL for weeks.
  • The committee is typically the final stop before a full ownership vote is scheduled.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Typically, the NFL finance committee meeting today is perfunctory.

Each year, the aim is to have all the major items handled ahead of the March owners’ meetings, with only a few issues that haven’t been solved left to mull over in May. But this regularly scheduled meeting before the main meeting in two weeks could clarify the Washington Commanders’ immediate future. 

Front Office Sports previously reported that the NFL had treated the $6.05 billion bid by a group led by Josh Harris as a done deal — even as those close to the Commanders have said the agreement remains tentative. 

If this were a normal sale, Harris’ application would have had to be in around March for the finance committee made up of NFL owners to schedule a vote for the main owners meeting. 

The application — accompanied by a $25,000 check — kicks off the vetting process, which includes the verification of financials and criminal background checks for the potential controlling owner and all the partners of an ownership group. 

An NFL spokesperson declined to comment when asked Tuesday if Harris’ application is in. A Harris spokesperson and one for the Commanders did the same.

But could a full ownership vote be scheduled during today’s meeting? Break out that shrug emoji because those intimately involved have remained mum. 

Multiple sources told FOS that Harris is expected to take over control of the team in early June. That would mean a vote would have to occur in Minnesota at the main owners’ meetings that run May 22-24. 

“Seems like things are moving forward with Harris,” one source with knowledge of negotiations told FOS. 

Three-quarters (24 or more owners) are needed to approve a new owner, and it takes about a week for all the money to be transferred over before the sale becomes official.

While not spelled out in the NFL Constitution and Bylaws, this odd Commanders’ sale could be treated as an incomplete transaction. With the backing of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the preliminary agreement could be vetted as an official application, one source told FOS. 

That would mean Harris and his more than a dozen limited partners have been thoroughly vetted by this point. The fact that The Washington Post reported last month that the NFL asked Harris’ group to revise some “minor issues” in their proposal certainly lends credence to the incomplete transaction approach. 

Exactly why the sale has gone this path isn’t clear. However, the team is still subject to multiple investigations — including one led by former SEC chief Mary Jo White on behalf of the NFL — and now, the attorneys general in California and New York are investigating the NFL, in part for the way the league handled the Commanders toxic workplace allegations. 

Sources said some things are clear: Snyder is selling, Harris is in line to add to his sports empire that already includes co-owners of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, and a new era isn’t far off for the once-storied franchise near the nation’s capital.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.
exclusive

Bipartisan Effort Mounts to Repeal Gambling Tax Hike in Trump Bill

The president signed the bill into law last week.
Bill Ackman
exclusive

Billionaire Bill Ackman Prepares for ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Tennis Match in..

Ackman says he’s “peaking next week” at the Hall of Fame Open.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Apr 26, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) before game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Rockets Get $20 Million in Wiggle Room From New VanVleet Deal

VanVleet first signed with the Rockets in 2023.
April 20, 2025

Max Verstappen Linked to $300M Aston Martin Deal Ahead of Miami GP

Aston Martin is currently seventh in the constructors championship.
June 24, 2025

Timberwolves’ 4-Year Ownership Saga Ends As A-Rod, Lore Take Over

The unanimous approval brought a clean end to a long-disputed transaction.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
March 27, 2025

Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions Gets PE Boost

The Hall of Famer’s company gains another prominent backer.
March 20, 2025

High School Sports Power Signs Eight-Figure Rights Deal in First

The deal pays roughly $1 million annually, FOS has learned.
March 20, 2025

Maxx Crosby’s Agent: Edge Rushers Set to Dominate NFL’s Non-QB Market

Maxx Crosby just signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension.
March 4, 2025

Eagles Make Saquon Barkley NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back Ever

Barkley is coming off a historic 2024 season with the Eagles.