Dawn of new ownership era fuels hope among Commanders faithful

Dan Snyder has owned the Washington Commanders for so long that his time in charge is all that an entire generation of fans knows, at least from a firsthand perspective.

The team itself has 25 players who were born after NFL owners in May 1999 approved Snyder’s purchase of the franchise for $800 million. Another 11 were born earlier that year.

And at 58 years old, Snyder is young enough that he could have theoretically been sitting in the owner’s box for another 30-plus years.

So Friday’s news that Snyder has signed an agreement to sell the Commanders to Josh Harris for $6.05 billion prompted an outbreak of joy among many fans across the District and beyond.

“May 12, 2023, today, is the best day of the last two decades for every fan of the Washington Commanders,” NBC fantasy football analyst and noted Washington fan Matthew Berry said Friday in a two-minute video he uploaded to social media. “Today is the greatest day ever. … We won the Super Bowl today because finally there’s hope. 

“You can hold your head proud as a fan of Washington.” 

For Snyder’s deal with Harris to become official, the NFL still must approve Harris and his group of partners — a process that could still take several months. But fans are feeling genuine hope for the first time in years, if not decades.

The reaction to Harris’ pending purchase of the Commanders makes that especially evident. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick tweeted that Washington is now set to become a “destination job very very quickly” with Snyder gone. A press secretary for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore wrote that the Democrat’s administration “looks forward to continuing conversations” with the Commanders about a stadium in the state and congratulated Harris’ group. Former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III shouted “YES, YES, YES!” and pumped his arms when asked about Snyder selling during an ESPN segment. 

“Overjoyed FOR THE FANS of the Washington Commanders and (its) players,” Griffin tweeted. “The fans will come back, the team will be a winner again, the players will get the facilities they deserve and the Washington Commanders will rise back to prominence under the leadership of Josh Harris’s Group.” 

Griffin’s tweet may have been striking to see given that at one time he was the face of the franchise and was seen as close to Snyder. But the former quarterback also hit on the long list of to-dos facing Harris and Co. should they indeed take over the franchise. 

The next owner of the Commanders must reenergize a fanbase that has been driven away by years of ineptitude. Building a new stadium and headquarters also remain priorities, with the team’s stadium in Landover and its headquarters in Ashburn considered outdated by NFL standards.

And ultimately, the biggest goal will be returning a once-proud franchise to relevance: The Commanders had a regular-season record of 164-220-2 with only six playoff appearances and two postseason wins in Snyder’s 24 seasons. 

Harris, of course, has a history of turning around distressed assets. On top of his work in the private equity realm, the billionaire has helped transform the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils after buying them in 2011 and 2013, respectively. 

But winning is easier said than done. As much as Harris has improved the 76ers and the Devils, both teams have yet to advance past the second round of the playoffs under his ownership.

Still, Harris will likely get a grace period from Commanders fans simply because he’s not Snyder. From numerous scandals to an inability to build a new stadium, it’s no secret that Snyder’s presence created obstacles for the franchise — team President Jason Wright practically said as much in March when he told The Washington Times that Snyder selling the team would be a “substantial boost” for the club. “I’m not saying anything Dan and Tanya don’t know,” Wright said. 

Case in point: On Friday, after a joint announcement from Snyder and Harris on their deal, District Mayor Muriel Bowser chimed in with a tweet that again advocated for the team to return to the city. She included check-mark emojis next to phrases like “Name [sic] changed” and “New owner,”  and included a fast-forward emoji next to “New home at RFK!” 

“#BringThePeople,” she wrote, adding a football emoji.