• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Washington Validates $6B Josh Harris Bet With Rapid Turnaround

A dream-like season for the Commanders continues, showing the power of what a new owner can quickly do in the right circumstances. 

Imagn Images

The dream that fans of struggling sports teams often have but typically don’t experience—a new owner buys the franchise and quickly turns it around—is improbably coming true for the Commanders, putting the long-forgotten organization back in the national limelight. 

Washington shocked top-seed Detroit 45-31 in the NFC divisional playoffs Saturday night, marking by far the biggest NFL win for second-year Commanders owner Josh Harris. With that upset victory at the Lions’ Ford Field, the Commanders have achieved key milestones:

  • The team’s first appearance in the NFC title game since the 1991 season, when just five current Commanders had even been born. Washington will face Philadelphia on Sunday for a trip to the Super Bowl.
  • The second playoff victory of the Harris era, equaling the number of postseason wins in the embattled, 24-year tenure of former team owner Dan Snyder. Both of those Snyder-era wins were in the wild-card round.
  • An “it” factor drawing a celebrity fanbase that includes NBA superstar and Washington-area native Kevin Durant, actor Matthew McConaughey, and racing legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., among others. 

There are many key figures involved in the resurgence of the Commanders, including the stellar play of star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the first-year football leadership of head coach Dan Quinn and GM Adam Peters. Harris, however, has helped instill an entirely different tenor to the organization since his record-breaking $6.05 billion purchase of the team in July 2023—departing significantly from the near-constant turbulence and friction that marked the Snyder era. 

“For everybody to put this together, this team, in really a year, it’s phenomenal,” said former Washington coach Joe Gibbs, who led the franchise to all three of its Super Bowl wins in the 1980s and early 1990s, and then had a less successful comeback effort more than a decade later under Snyder. “To get a win like that on the road, it’s really hard, [but] gives you great confidence. [It’s] just fantastic for everybody.”

The Commanders are a 5.5-point underdog to the Eagles in the upcoming conference title game at Lincoln Financial Field, part of a South Philadelphia sports complex being remade, in part through the NBA’s 76ers and Harris, also the lead owner of that team. Ticket demand on the resale markets for the NFC clash, however, is robust, with low-end, get-in pricing beginning at around $600 per seat—roughly twice the comparable figure for the AFC championship game between the Bills and Chiefs.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Stephen Curry celebrates after sinking the winning putt during the final round of the American Century Celebrity Championship golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Golf’s Hottest Celebrity Tournament Keeps Getting More Exclusive

The American Century Championship tees off at Lake Tahoe on Friday.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Oct 27, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of the Wells Fargo Center before game between Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

New Philly Arena Will Redefine Home-Court Advantage, CEO Says

The forthcoming venue will arrive with plenty of ambition among its owners.

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

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

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

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.
Alex Sarr

Wizards Pushing Limits of Youth With 11 Players on Rookie Deals

Washington’s 2025 first-round pick is top-eight protected.
Chelsea
July 8, 2025

Chelsea Club World Cup Run Banks at Least $100M for Mark Walter..

The Blues will likely take home between $100 million and $120 million.
July 9, 2025

From Dynasty to Disarray: Red Bull Fires Christian Horner

He served as Red Bull team principal for more than two decades.
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
July 8, 2025

Texas Sports Teams, Leagues Donate Over $5M to Flood Relief

NFL, MLB, and NBA teams in Texas donate to flood recovery efforts.
Chelsea
July 8, 2025

Club World Cup Semis Are Battle to Make Richest Soccer Final Ever

Semifinalists have each earned at least $60 million from the tournament so far.
July 7, 2025

Nationals Hit Reset Button, Oust Rizzo and Martinez Before Draft

The MLB club made major leadership changes just days before the draft.
July 6, 2025

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.