Quick Facts: Washington Commanders
| Principal Owner | Josh Harris |
| Ownership Type | Private (limited-partnership consortium) |
| Acquisition Price | $6.05 billion (July 2023) |
| Previous Owner | Dan Snyder (sold July 2023) |
| League | NFL — NFC East |
| Home Stadium | Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns the Washington Commanders?
The Washington Commanders are owned by a private consortium led by Josh Harris as principal owner. The Harris-led group completed its purchase of the franchise from Dan Snyder in July 2023 for a record-setting $6.05 billion — the highest price ever paid for an NFL team at the time of sale. The deal closed after an extensive NFL ownership-approval process and ended Snyder’s three-decade tenure with the franchise. Other notable limited partners in the ownership group include private equity investor Mitchell Rales, businessman Mark Ein, and basketball legend Magic Johnson.
About Josh Harris
Josh Harris is an American billionaire co-founder of Apollo Global Management, one of the world’s largest alternative investment firms. Harris has built a substantial sports portfolio over the years, previously co-owning the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils through Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). His acquisition of the Commanders added an NFL franchise to that stable. Harris is known for his aggressive, analytics-driven approach to franchise building and has pledged to return the Commanders to championship contention while pursuing a new stadium in the Washington, D.C. area — potentially at the historic RFK Stadium site.
Key Ownership Highlights
- The $6.05 billion purchase price set a new record for the highest acquisition price of a North American professional sports team at the time.
- Dan Snyder, the embattled previous owner, faced years of controversy and a Congressional investigation before agreeing to sell.
- The franchise was renamed from Washington Football Team to Washington Commanders in February 2022, prior to the Harris group’s purchase.
- Harris has publicly committed to a new stadium in the D.C. metropolitan area, with RFK Stadium identified as a preferred site pending Congressional approval of a land deal.
- The consortium includes minority partners from sports, finance, and entertainment — a model Harris also used with the 76ers and Devils.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current owner of the Washington Commanders?
Josh Harris is the principal owner of the Washington Commanders. He leads a private ownership consortium that purchased the franchise from Dan Snyder in July 2023 for $6.05 billion.
How much did Josh Harris pay for the Commanders?
The Harris-led group paid $6.05 billion, which was the largest price ever paid for a North American sports franchise at the time of the transaction.
Who sold the Washington Commanders?
Dan Snyder sold the team. Snyder had owned the franchise since 1999 and faced significant pressure from sponsors, the NFL, and Congress before agreeing to sell in 2023.
Is the Washington Commanders publicly traded?
No. The Washington Commanders are a privately held franchise and are not traded on any stock exchange.