NFL reaches agreement with Dan Snyder to address legal issues ahead of Commanders sale

Attorneys for the NFL and those representing Dan Snyder reached an agreement on the remaining legal isses, Monday, that clears the final concerns with the selling the Commanders to Josh Harris.

The NFL owners vote is scheduled for Thursday. At least 24 of the 32 league owners will have to approve the record sale of $6.05 billion. But that seems to be a given. The Washington Post reported that the NFL finance committee gave its informal approval, Monday. Not all eight members of the commiittee were there to vote. However, the committee took a straw poll. The results were unanimous in favor of Harris.

Snyder has owned the Commanders since 1999. But after a variety of scandals and investigations directed at Snyder and his team, the other owners finally were able to push him out. But there was a significant legal hurdle to clear that arose from an investigation.

NFL, Dan Snyder needed to negotiate indemnification

The Post reported that the final issue centered on legal problems that included the indemnification of Snyder in regards to a lawsuit filed by former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden against the NFL. Although Gruden didn’t coach the Commanders, he was friends with Bruce Allen, the former general manager. Gruden lost his job in October, 2021, after personal emails between the two were leaked to the media. A source told the Post that this issue needed to be resolved or the sale wouldn’t go through. Some information indicated that Snyder leaked the Gruden emails to get in the better graces of Roger Goodell. The emails, written a decade before, cost Gruden his jpb.

“This is a good outcome,” a source told the Post in regards to the negotiations. The newspaper reported last week that the indemnification processs already was about 95 percent done.

So what happens now? The league owners convene in Minnesota, Thursday. They’ll vote whether to accept Harriis’ bid and transfer ownership to him.

The sale is expected to close as soon as Friday. The Post also reported that the results of the investigation by Mary Jo White should be released within days of the transfer from Snyder to Harris.

Harris and his ownership group, which also includes Magic Johnson, should take over the team by the start of training camp, July 27.