NFL Owners Approve $6B Washington Commanders Sale: Report

ASHBURN, VA — In a unanimous vote Thursday, the NFL approved the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders from controversial owner Dan Snyder to a group led by Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Josh Harris, according to multiple reports.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the news.

All 32 team owners voted for the sale, which is the highest price paid for a North American professional sports team. After the finance committee approved the agreement with the new ownership group, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, a special league meeting was called to consider and vote on it before the 2023 season begins.

Snyder had owned the team since 1999 when he bought it for $800 million. With Snyder in charge, the team made the playoffs just six times in 24 years, only twice won a postseason game and went 166-226-2 overall.

The franchise lost a significant amount of luster from the glory days under coach Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls in his 12-year run from 1981-92.

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.

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.

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.

Harris will inherit FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, as part of the sale. In recent years, Snyder had explored building a new stadium in Virginia. The Washington Commanders' lease at FedEx Field will end in 2027.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.