Dan Snyder’s nearly 25-year-long tenure as owner of the Washington Commanders came to an end on Thursday as he sold the franchise to Josh Harris.
And after ruining a Washington D.C. institution while reportedly treating his employees like garbage, Snyder received quite a hefty parting “gift” — a $60 million fine as a result of an investigation into some of his financial misconduct. For a man who just made over $6 billion in a sale, it’s probably not the biggest dent in his checkbook.
But, when compared to NFL history, this is no small number.
Let’s take a look at where Snyder’s last fine related to the Commanders (for now) ranks by the league’s past precedent.
8
Jim Irsay, Bill Belichick, New Orleans Saints (tied)
Fines: $500,000
Irsay took a dent for a driving-under-the-influence charge after pleading guilty in 2014. Belichick was, of course, fined this amount for the infamous “Spygate” exploits during the 2007 season. Meanwhile, the Saints took one on the chin after it was revealed they were placing “bounties” on injuring players during their 2009 Super Bowl championship season. Because this is America and we don’t know how to creatively label most scandals, you might remember the incident more as “Bountygate.”
7
New Orleans Saints
Fine: $700,000
Sean Payton might be the taste of Denver now, but there was a time he had the Saints skirting COVID-19 protocols designed to keep members of the organization safe. For this, the Saints were forced to pay $700,000 in fines and forfeit a sixth-round draft pick in 2022.
6
Jamal Lewis
Fine: $760,000
A notable player on the field — Lewis is one of the only players in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a single season — the former Baltimore Raven pleaded guilty to federal drug possession in 2004. He would be fined $760,000 by the league.
5
Edward DeBartolo Jr., New England Patriots (tied)
Fines: $1 million
The former long-time owner of the San Francisco 49ers (1997-2000), DeBartolo Jr. was fined $1 million after pleading guilty to a felony charge in a Louisiana gambling scandal with former governor Edwin Edwards. After the fact, DeBartolo Jr. was forced to step down from his ownership mantel.
Meanwhile, nearly a decade after Spygate, the implications of the “Deflategate” scandal in 2015 led to a $1 million fine for Belichick’s Patriots.
4
Denver Broncos
Fine: $1.9 million (total)
Long after the end of the John Elway era, the Broncos were forced to pay the piper in 2001 and 2004. The NFL hit Denver with $1.9 million in fines for circumventing the salary cap on their contracts with Elway and Terrell Davis in the mid-90s.
3
Deshaun Watson
Fine: $5 million
Deshaun Watson — who once faced more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct for what the NFL would later describe as “predatory behavior” — was fined $5 million and suspended for 11 games in 2022.
2
Washington Commanders
Fine: $10 million
Let’s be honest: The Commanders under Snyder set their own embarrassingly low standards. Following a 2021 investigation that concluded the organization actively created a hostile work environment, especially for women, Washington was fined a then-record $10 million.
1
Dan Snyder
Fine: $60 million
Now officially an independent operator outside of the Commanders’ purview, Snyder’s $60 million fine from a financial misconduct investigation by former SEC chair Mary Jo White is by far the largest in league history. A fitting parting gift to one of the worst owners pro football has ever seen.
