NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Washington Commanders to a group led by billionaire Josh Harris on Thursday.
Harris, who also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, expressed excitement at the opportunity to lead the franchise’s next chapter.
«On behalf of our entire ownership group…I want to express how excited we are to be considered by the NFL as the next owners of the Washington Commanders and how committed we are to delivering a championship-caliber franchise to this city and its fan base,» Harris said in his statement.
Harris agreed to buy the team for a record $6.05 billion, the highest price paid for a North American professional sports team, according to The Associated Press.
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Team co-owners Dan and Tanya Snyder pose for a photo with former team members during the announcement of the Washington Football Team’s name change to the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on February 2, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The day after the sale was formally approved, Daniel Synder and his wife Tanya released a joint statement.
«We congratulate Harris Ownership Group on yesterday’s unanimous league approval of its purchase of the Washington Commanders,» the couple said in a statement issued by their public relations firm.
The Snyders also touted their diversity-related accomplishments during their ownership and thanked the players and fans.
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«We are proud to have created the most diverse leadership group of any team in the NFL, including having the highest representation of women, underrepresented groups, and the first full-time black female coach in league history.
«We are immensely grateful to the greatest fans in football, the Commanders faithful, for the passion and unwavering support they have shown for this team and those who represented it on and off the field. From the players who fought every week for that extra inch, to those who worked behind the scenes to improve every facet of the organization, we thank you for your hard work, dedication and commitment to our team, the fans, the pursuit of excellence and most importantly, each other. «.
Team co-owner Dan Snyder speaks during the announcement of the Washington Football Team’s name change to the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on February 2, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The couple later described the opportunity to own an NFL franchise as a «privilege.»
“To serve as stewards of this historic organization for the past quarter century has been the privilege of a lifetime. When we bought the team almost 25 years ago, Dan said: ‘I’m a fan. A big fan. It’s that easy’. That is as true today as it was then. During our next chapter, we look forward to spending time with family and devoting our energy to the causes we care about, including furthering our long-standing support of breast cancer research.»
Washington Commanders owners Tanya Snyder and Dan Snyder on the field at AT&T Stadium on October 2, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The sale of the team to the group led by Harris, which includes Magic Johnson, NBA Hall of Famer, investor and sports team owner David Blitzer and American billionaire Mitchell Rales, was widely received following the August 2020 allegations about the franchise’s toxic work environment.
Back then, the league fined the organization $10 million and ordered Snyder away from day-to-day operations.
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Snyder first bought the Commanders in 1999. The Snyders bought out the franchise’s minority partners in 2021.
A group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton previously held the record for the most expensive transaction in sports when it bought the Denver Broncos for a record $4.6 billion.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.