Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Will Not Submit A Bid To Buy The Washington Commanders: Reports

ASHBURN, VA — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will not submit a bid to purchase the Washington Commanders, according to reports from ESPN and other sources.

Bezos had been a popular name in the process since current owner Dan Snyder said he was considering selling the NFL team in November. Previous reports said Bezos would consider a bid alongside rapper and mogul Jay-Z and actor Matthew McConaughey.

On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Dan and Tanya Snyder had blocked Bezos from bidding on the team. Sources who know the Snyders denied the report.

Read more: Matthew McConaughey Eyes Commanders Bid With Bezos And Jay-Z

Though Bezos is out of the running, multiple groups have now submitted official bids. A group led by Josh Harris, who owns the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils, submitted a bid worth $6 billion, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Harris's group includes fellow billionaire Mitchell Rales and NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Read more: Magic Johnson Joining Bid To Buy Washington Commanders

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was drafted by Washington in 2012, has also expressed interest in joining Harris's group.

Tilman Fertitta is the owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets. This week, during an appearance on CNBC, he said he placed a bid for the Commanders for $5.6 billion. He noted that his bid was based on the Forbes valuation of the franchise.

The final group reported to have bid on the Commanders is led by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos. His bid matched Harris's $6 billion offer, according to ESPN.

Snyder's time as owner has been ripe with controversy.

On Monday, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced a settlement with the franchise regarding mishandled season ticket deposits. The franchise will return $200,000 to fans and pay $425,000 to the D.C. government for their actions.

"Rather than being transparent and upfront in their ticket sale practices, the Commanders unlawfully took advantage of their fan base, holding on to security deposits instead of returning them,” Schwalb said in a news release. “Under this settlement agreement, our office will maintain strict oversight over the Commanders to ensure all necessary steps are taken to reimburse fans for the refunds they are entitled to."

Read more: Snyder, NFL Interfered In Harassment Investigation: DC Lawsuit

In 2020, the franchise changed its name and branding after years of concerns that the previous name was racist toward Native Americans. From 2020 through 2022, Snyder was the subject of investigations by the NFL, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the D.C. Attorney General's Office.

Read more: Snyder, NFL Interfered In Harassment Investigation: DC Lawsuit

In 2021, the Commanders, then known as the Washington Football Team, were fined $10 million by the NFL. The NFL investigation determined that Snyder fostered a hostile work environment within the organization. Several former employees expressed concerns about sexual harassment and retaliation.

Read more: Washington Football Team Fined $10M After NFL Investigation

After the investigation, Snyder temporarily stepped away from the team's day-to-day operations.In November 2022, the team announced that Snyder was considering potential transactions involving the franchise. Initial reports said Snyder could sell the whole franchise or a minority stake. Snyder and his wife, Tanya, had owned 100 percent of the franchise since buying out the minority owners in 2021.