The NFL needs to force Dan Snyder to sell his franchise

Nobody believed the toxic culture of the Washington football team could get any worse under owner Daniel Snyder, until it did. A Washington Post article recently detailed several sexual harassment allegations made by 15 female employees against multiple former senior officials in Washington’s front office, some of whom were in Snyder’s inner circle. These allegations span from 2006 to 2019 and have exposed Washington’s dysfunction once again. In response, the team hired lawyer Beth Wilkinson to review the franchise’s culture. 

Dan Snyder himself was not accused of misconduct, but he has created a culture that promotes such behavior. Bullying employees, holding topless cheerleader photoshoots and refusing to change the team’s racist name until forced by sponsors are just some of the horrible incidents that have occurred during Snyder’s 21-year tenure as Washington’s owner. The foolishness of Dan Snyder has ruined the franchise and he has had enough chances to change the way he operates it. This scandal should be the final straw that causes the National Football League (NFL) to force him to sell the team. 

It would be in the best interests of the NFL and Washington to force Snyder out of the league. By forcing Snyder to sell the team because of this incident, it would send a message to the rest of the league that sexual misconduct is unacceptable. As owner, Snyder is responsible for handling these incidents. He has repeatedly failed to properly address incidents of this caliber and has shown no indication of changing his approach. Snyder has promised culture change before this scandal but nothing positive has come of it. If the NFL does not force Snyder out, it will highlight uninterest in setting a positive image for the league and ignorance towards the way he is running the team. Serious change starts at the top, so Snyder needs to go. 

It is very unlikely that Dan Snyder would voluntarily sell the team, so he would need to be forced. According to Fox News, section 8.13 of the league constitution states the commissioner can determine if an owner “has been guilty of conduct detrimental to the League or professional football,” and choose to punish that owner with a fine or, in extreme cases, by pushing for a vote to strip them of team ownership. If at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners voted to remove Snyder, he would be forced to sell the team. 

There is no indication a vote is coming, but more information is likely to surface after the conclusion of Beth Wilkinson’s investigation into the team. It is unlikely Commissioner Roger Goodell and other owners would try to remove Snyder unless he is found to have been involved. 

In the hearts of almost all Washington fans, there is a special place of disdain for Daniel Snyder. He has transformed what was once among the most respected franchises in the league to one among the most disrespected, a laughing stock. The team’s record during his tenure has plummeted. Blowout losses, half empty stadiums with as many away fans as home fans and losing seasons are normal. Washington fans have desperately wanted to see him gone for years, and this incident gives fans another reason to feel that way. During a home blowout loss last season, fans chanted at Snyder to sell the team. 

Daniel Snyder has no place being the owner of an NFL team. By continuing to allow incidents like this to occur, he has shown he has not and will not learn how to run a team without making it a nightmare for anyone to work for. Either Snyder was somehow clueless for years about sexual misconduct happening right in front of him or he knew and didn't care enough to handle it. Both possibilities show he is extremely incompetent of holding any leadership position. A statement from the league is not enough and it is time for action beyond a meaningless fine to a billionaire. If Snyder is still the owner after this situation, the NFL is taking a huge risk by sending the message that there is no accountability. There will be more damage to what was once a great franchise and worst of all, there will be more scandals within the team and the league involving the mistreatment of women.