It’s not a secret anymore: Daniel Snyder is selling the Washington Commanders. Team president Jason Wright confirmed the obvious last week, even admitting he’d be glad when it was over.
Wright’s admission was the first from a high-ranking official that the team was indeed for sale. Wright even said Dan Snyder and his wife, co-owner, Tanya, would also be happy when it was over.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, “the finish line is in sight” for the sale of the Commanders. And Breer, like others, continues to believe Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris ends up being Washington’s new owner.
Breer thinks things could be over in May at the next league meetings.
That said, there’s a good level of confidence that we’ll get a vote in May. Harris, or whoever the buyer winds up being, would have to be approved by the finance committee first. After that, an exclusive negotiating window would open to finalize the structure of a deal, and the owners would vote once everything is buttoned up. There are still some nerves among NFL power brokers that Snyder will back out at the last moment. But most think it’s happening.
Harris was one of two bids submitted for the Commanders recently at around $6 billion. Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos is the other known bidder. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta previously submitted a bid of around $5.5 billion.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos still hasn’t formally submitted a bid for the Commanders, and it’s unknown if he will.
As Breer noted, the good news about Harris is he’s already been vetted by the NFL. He was interested in buying the Denver Broncos last year. That speeds up the potential sale if Snyder chooses Harris.