Washington Commanders Take Another Huge Step Towards Being Sold

The Washington Commanders' long nightmare may finally be coming to an end. Per Mike Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, the NFL's owners voted unanimously to approve the sale of the franchise to a group led by businessman Josh Harris, owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.

NEW and UPDATED: NFL owners have voted unanimously to approve the $6.05 billion sale of the Commanders from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris’s group. From @NickiJhabvala and me.... https://t.co/Ei1L7z6NFW
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) July 20, 2023

Owner approval is one of the final hoops the league will have to jump through in order to pry the Commanders from reviled longtime owner Daniel Snyder. Snyder has been pursuing indemnity from all future legal action against the Commanders and the NFL, which reportedly had caused the sale to hit a snag. With owner approval secured and $6.05 billion on the table, Snyder may be poised to make out like a bandit.

Snyder and the Commanders have been the subject of much legal and league scrutiny over recent years, and the breadth of his misconduct has been kept under a tight lid so far. Pressure for Snyder to sell the team (or to be forcefully removed) has increased over the past year.

Snyder bought the Commanders in 1999 and quickly sent the once-proud franchise into a tailspin. After winning three Super Bowls in the 80s and 90s, the Commanders have made the playoffs only six times under Snyder. The team ranked last in average attendance in 2022, and FedEx Field routinely ranks among the worst stadiums in the league.

Conversely, Harris has successfully turned around two sports franchises already. His 76ers have made the playoffs in five straight seasons following a dismal teardown dubbed "The Process", and his Devils finished with the second-most wins in the NHL over the 2022-23 season after four straight years of futility. He has also made headway on the construction of a new arena for 76ers; Snyder consistently struggled to close the deal on a new stadium for the Commanders.

Harris has a long resume, but Commanders fans would likely be delighted with anyone who replaces Snyder. Now, after years of hoping, it truly appears they'll get their wish.