Sports Writing (EFE).- The owner of the Washington Commanders, Dan Snyder, and Josh Harris’ group of investors agreed on Thursday to transfer the franchise in exchange for 6,050 million dollars (5,472 million euros), an absolute record in the NFL .
Until today, the largest payment made by a team was 4,650 million dollars (4,206 million euros) that in mid-2022 the group led by the heir to Walmart, Rob Walton, disbursed for the Denver Broncos.
Millionaire Josh Harris owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, and a minority owner of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
He is also the head of an investment group that includes Maryland businessman and philanthropist Mitchell Rales and NBA legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, winner of five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.
‘Magic’ Johnson is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and co-owner of MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers.
The sale of Commanders needs approval from at least 24 of the NFL’s 32 team owners and the league’s Finance Committee, which is due to meet May 22-24 this year.
Commanders owner Dan Snyder and his wife, Tanya, have controlled the Washington franchise since 1999.
Snyder hired Bank of America Securities last November to explore a possible sale of the team, something that took place this Thursday.
In 24 seasons under the tutelage of Dan Snyder, the team from the United States capital posted a record of 164 wins, 220 losses and two ties. He only qualified for the playoffs six times. The most recent was in 2020 and the closest time he won a playoff game was in 2005.
In July 2020, Washington dropped its traditional nickname of “Redskins” (redskins), after pressure from the media and complaints from Native Americans who said that the nickname was an ethnic slur and a derogatory reference to skin color.
In February 2022 it was announced that the team would be called the Washington Commanders.