Topline
A bombshell ESPN report Thursday leveled several staggering accusations against controversial billionaire Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder, who allegedly hired private investigators to gather information on other powerful NFL figures and who says he has gathered enough “dirt” to take down his foes.
Dan Snyder appears at the Commanders’ game against the Dallas Cowboys last month.
The Washington Post via Getty Images
Key Facts
Snyder, the subject of an ongoing Congressional investigation for allegedly fostering a toxic workplace with rampant sexual harassment, recently told an associate he has enough information to “blow up” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league owners, according to ESPN.
Among the owners catching Snyder’s ire is Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys: Sources told ESPN that Snyder said to another owner he “has dirt” on Jones and that Snyder told another associate he has a “file” on Jones.
Snyder, facing increased pressure to sell the team, said Goodell and other owners “can’t f*** with me,” ESPN reports, apparently expressing confidence the league won’t pursue a vote to remove Snyder from his post.
The Commanders owner purportedly justified his unsavory information-gathering by telling a colleague the “NFL is a mafia” and “all the owners hate each other,” but one owner told ESPN Snyder’s assessment is false and instead “All the owners hate Dan.”
A team spokesperson denied the accuracy of the report in a statement to Forbes: “It’s hard to imagine a piece that is more categorically untrue, and is clearly part of a well-funded, two-year misinformation campaign to coerce the sale of the team, which will continue to be unsuccessful.”
Key Background
The league fined Snyder $src0 million last July following an internal probe into the Commanders and Snyder subsequently stepped away from the team’s day-to-day operations, ceding control to his wife Tanya Snyder. The NFL declined to make its findings public, and the House Oversight and Reform Committee launched its own investigation into Snyder and the league’s handling of its probe in October 202src. The Commanders paid $src.6 million to a former female employee who accused Snyder of sexually assaulting her in 2009, according to the Washington Post (Snyder denied the assault took place). Snyder testified before Congress in July in a virtual, closed-doors deposition. The House subcommittee revealed in June it has evidence of Snyder interfering with the NFL’s investigation into him, allegedly offering former employees hush money to not cooperate with the probe. Congress can not bring charges against Snyder directly, but could recommend the Department of Justice.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Snyder to be worth $4.9 billion, making him the 499th wealthiest person in the world. Most of Snyder’s fortune is thanks to his majority ownership of the Commanders, worth $5.6 billion according to our calculations, the sixth-most valuable team in the NFL. Snyder bought the team for about $800 million in src999, using money from his then-public advertising firm Snyder Communications he sold for $2 billion to French advertising company Havas in 2000.
Crucial Quote
“THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR DAN SNYDER OR THE NFL,” former star Commanders quarterback Robert Griffin III tweeted. Griffin now works as a broadcaster for ESPN.
Further Reading
Sources: Commanders boss Snyder claims ‘dirt’ on NFL owners, Goodell (ESPN)
Timeline of Dan Snyder allegations: Commanders owner testifies before Congress (Athletic)
NFL owners’ attitudes harden toward Commanders’ Daniel Snyder (Washington Post)