Daniel Snyder’s 24-year-run as the Washington Commanders owner officially came to an end on Thursday with news that the NFL has approved the sale of the organization to Josh Harris for just over $6 billion.
Snyder has long been in the news for all the wrong reasons. In addition to the Commanders struggling during his watch, scandal after scandal became the name of the game. Immediately after approval of the sale to the Harris-led group was announced, the NFL fined Snyder $60 million. It came after an independent investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct and financial wrongdoing.
Snyder and his wife, Tanya, released a statement Friday evening after the sale became official. None of the drama we’ve seen unfold over the past several years was included in said statement.
“We congratulate the Harris Ownership Group on yesterday’s unanimous League approval of their purchase of the Washington Commanders. We are proud to have built the most diverse leadership group of any NFL team, including having the highest representation of women, underrepresented groups, and the first full-time black female coach in League history,” statement from former Commanders owners Daniel Snyder and Tanya Snyder.
“We are immensely grateful to the best fans in football, the Commanders’ faithful, for the passion and unwavering support they have shown for this team and those who represented it on and off the field.”
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Daniel Snyder tenure with the Washington Commanders ends in disgrace
Snyder was not going to touch on being fined $60 million by the NFL. He also wasn’t going to bring up the findings of the independent investigation noted above.
What we do know is that the now-former owner faced multiple scandals during his time leading the Washington organization. The final nail in his coffin could have very well been the NFL’s findings that he withheld $11 million in ticket revenue to other owners around the league.
On the field, Washington earned five playoff appearances a just one postseason win during Snyder’s near quarter-century in power.
Since Harris took over as the Commanders’ owner, reports are indicating that he’s looking to change their name. It would be another way for Harris and his group to completely wash themselves of the Snyder era with the Commanders.