The NFL was expected to ratify the sale of the Washington Commanders from embattled owner Daniel Snyder to a group headed by Josh Harris at some point in May.
While that remains a possibility, it now looks like momentum could be slowing in this regard due to concerns from members of the NFL’s finance committee.
“Members of the NFL’s finance committee raised concerns Wednesday about Josh Harris’s tentative $6.05 billion deal to purchase the Washington Commanders from Daniel Snyder, slowing momentum for the potential sale and dimming the prospects of a possible ratification vote of the league’s team owners later this month,” report from The Washington Post’s Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala.
Those close to the situation stressed that this doesn’t mean a sale of the Washington Commanders to Harris’ group won’t be approved. Rather, the eight-member committee needs more time to sift through the finances.
Though, this does mean that owners are unlikely to be able to approve the sale during their meetings in Indianapolis starting in less than two weeks.
Related: Everything you need to know about the new potential Washington Commanders owners
Financials of Josh Harris’ bid to buy the Washington Commanders under scrutiny
This is somewhat surprising information. Almost immediately after Harris entered into a non-binding agreement to purchase the Commanders for $6.05 billion back in April, the NFL found no “major issues” in its review of the transaction.
“The NFL’s informal review of Josh Harris’s tentative $6.05 billion deal to purchase the Washington Commanders found only minor issues that Harris’s group must resolve, leaving the league and team owners confident the deal would be approved if other obstacles related to the sale can be overcome.”
Report on Washington Commanders pending sale
Meanwhile, Commissioner Roger Goodell noted during the 2023 NFL Draft that a sale could be finalized at some point in May.
Currently the owner of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, Harris has a wide range of relationships around the sports world.
Harris’ group consists of D.C. billionaire Mitchell Rales as well as Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
The Commanders and the NFL declined to comment on The Post’s story. Though, one individual close to the situation indicates that an unusually large number of limited partners in Harris’ bid is slowing things down. In short, the vetting process could take longer for such a complex agreement.
Again, this doesn’t mean something won’t get done.
Everyone wants it to get done,” a source close to the situation told The Washington Post. “I’m not saying it can’t get done. I don’t know. We’ll have to see.”
For the NFL, this can’t be seen as great news. The league wants to speed along the process of transferring ownership from Snyder to another entity. Snyder has been mired in scandal after scandal over the past few years.
It’s led to the NFL itself continually being placed under a microscope for its handling of investigations into widespread workplace misconduct and financial wrongdoing on the part of the outgoing owner.