Jeff Bezos was once considered the favorite to buy the Washington Commanders from Dan and Tanya Snyder. However, the Amazon founder reportedly did not make a formal offer in the first round of bids last month. While it could be a strategic move by Bezos, another reason may be revealed.
According to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington, the Snyder family has “absolutely no interest” in selling the team to Bezos. While Bezos may be out of the running, the sale is expected to be “over soon.”
In addition to Amazon, Bezos owns the Washington Post. The same newspaper has released several reports on Snyder and the team in a negative light. A July 2020 report highlighting sexual and workplace misconduct within the organization resulted in the NFL investigating Snyder and the team.
The NFL fined the Commanders $10 million, and Dan Snyder stepped away from day-to-day operations following the league’s first investigation.
The Commanders announced in November that the Snyders hired the Bank of America Securities to help explore options for a potential sale. Bezos’ name surfaced almost immediately. He reportedly sought to gather a team that included rap mogul Jay-Z to buy the Commanders.
However, Bezos’ interest was always peculiar, considering the beef from Snyder. In November, NBC Sports’ Peter King reported a sale to Bezos would “never happen” because Snyder “detests” the Washington Post.
Some Commanders fans had hoped Bezos would land the team. With Bezos out, offers have not exceeded $6.3 billion. That’s shy of earlier reports the Commanders would fetch “north of $7 billion.”
Still, the highest bid would surpass the $4.65 billion the Denver Broncos sold for last year. Snyder purchased the Washington franchise for $800 million in 1999. The past 24 years have been dreadful for Washington fans under Snyder. Bezos may not get the team, but fans will cling to hope Snyder’s reign will be “over soon.”
