• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 31, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

Roger Goodell, Josh Harris Lobby Senate on Behalf of RFK Stadium Bill

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris met with lawmakers Monday to discuss the RFK Stadium bill.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris met with Congressional lawmakers Monday to lobby on behalf of a bill that could lead to the NFL’s return to D.C., a league source confirmed to Front Office Sports.  

The push comes two weeks after the RFK Stadium bill—which would give D.C. more control of the federally controlled land that could be used for a new stadium—passed a Senate committee vote and now must pass a full Senate vote before the Senate is expected to adjourn on Dec. 20. 

Goodell and Harris met with legislators throughout Monday afternoon to address any concerns about the bill and to discuss “other league matters,” the source told FOS. Politico was first to report that Goodell and Harris were on Capitol Hill. 

Optimism that the bill will get a vote has spiked since Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) backed off his threat to block the bill before it could get past the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It was Daines who urged the Commanders to more forcefully recognize Walter “Blackie” Wetzel for his contributions to the team’s former Native American headdress logo used from 1972-2020, which led to a plaque at the stadium for Wetzel.

By a 15-vote margin, the bill, formally titled the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, advanced out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Nov. 19.

“I’d expect opposition from the Senators in Maryland and potentially Virginia, but with a 17-2 vote out of committee, you have to expect they have the votes,” George Washington Law professor Melinda Roth says. “It will really just matter what this gets attached to. As long as it gets attached to something, it’s likely going to happen.”

Since it stands very little chance of passing as a standalone bill, work behind the scenes has focused on finding other legislation it could pass alongside, according to Congressional sources. 

Beyond the overwhelming committee vote, a Congressional source also credited the effort by the NFL and Commanders to boost the bill’s chances. The source also cited D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and her office’s work to advance the bill in the Senate, where D.C. has no representation. 

The bill passed the House in rare bipartisan fashion in February. It would award D.C. a 99-year lease to develop the 174 acres that encompass the old RFK site, where the team played until relocating to Landover, Md., in 1996. 

If the bill passes, D.C. would be an option alongside Virginia and Maryland for the next Commanders stadium. The team is aiming to play in a new stadium by 2030.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

CBS Bets Big on Chiefs-Bills Rivalry As AFC Landscape Changes

Big viewership likely awaits the revival of the NFL rivalry.

NBA Season Opens With Best Ratings in 8 Years Despite Off-Court Scandals

It’s the first year of the NBA’s 11-year, $77 billion media deal.
John Madden

How John Madden Became ‘America’s Nutty Football Professor’

“Once paired with Summerall, Madden found his true path.”

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.

Like NFL, NBA Is Doubling Down on Cosm’s ‘Mini-Sphere’ Venues

League games will continue to be shown at the immersive venues.
October 27, 2025

$100M Browns Stadium Settlement Still Faces Cleveland City Hurdles

Cleveland’s city council must still approve the pact with the Browns.
October 29, 2025

Mavericks Accuse Stars of Holding Dallas Arena ‘Hostage’ in Lawsuit

The NBA team seized control of a joint company operating the American Airlines Center.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
Joey Bosa
October 22, 2025

Joey Bosa’s L.A. Home for Sale for $3.7 Million

The Bills defensive end purchased the home last July.
October 21, 2025

Jazz to Get New Training Facility on Same Campus As Mammoth

The company is developing a sports campus in Sandy, Utah.
October 16, 2025

Steelers’ Shared Stadium With Pitt Comes Under Fire for Bad Turf

The conditions at Acrisure Stadium have been subpar this season.
October 15, 2025

Bears Hit Another Speed Bump for New $5B Stadium in Suburbs

A new state bill would impose several conditions on the NFL team.