Bye Snyder

The Washington Football Team changed its name because of mounting pressure from critics and activists who argued that the old name was racist and derogatory towards Native Americans. The team had been known as the Washington Redskins since 1933, but in recent years, there had been increasing calls for a name change. Many Native American groups and advocates had long protested the use of the name “Redskins,” arguing that it was a slur that perpetuated harmful stereotypes and contributed to discrimination against Indigenous peoples. In addition, some media outlets, including the Washington Post, had stopped using the name in their coverage of the team. In July 2020, the team announced that it would retire the old name and logo and would temporarily play as the Washington Football Team until a new name and brand could be developed. The team underwent a thorough rebranding process and consulted with stakeholders, including Native American leaders and advocates, to select a new name and logo that would be respectful and inclusive. In February 2022, the team announced that it would be known as the Washington Commanders, effective for the 2022 NFL season. The new name and logo were designed to honor the military and first responders and were selected after an extensive process of research, community engagement, and design development.

Jack Kent Cooke

Was a Canadian-American entrepreneur and sports team owner. He was born on October 25, 1912, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and died on April 6, 1997, in Washington, D.C., United States. Cooke was a highly successful businessman, having made his fortune in a variety of industries, including radio, television, newspapers, and sports franchises. He was best known for his ownership of several professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA, the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL, and the Washington Redskins of the NFL (now known as the Washington Football Team). Cooke purchased the Washington Redskins in 1974 and owned the team until his death in 1997. During his ownership, the team won three Super Bowl championships (XVII, XXII, and XXVI) and became one of the most valuable franchises in the NFL. Cooke was known for his hands-on approach to team management, and he was admired for his business acumen and his commitment to winning. In addition to his sports ownership, Cooke was also a noted philanthropist and donated millions of dollars to various causes, including education, healthcare, and the arts. He established the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities to high-achieving students with financial need.

Daniel Snyder 

An American businessman and the former majority owner of the Washington Commanders, which is a professional American football team based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Snyder was born on November 23, 1964, in Maryland, United States. Snyder became involved in the business world at a young age and co-founded Snyder Communications, Inc., a marketing firm, in 1985. The company grew rapidly and eventually became a publicly traded company before being sold to the French advertising giant, Publicis, in 2000 for $2.1 billion. Snyder purchased the Washington Commanders, then known as the Washington Redskins, in 1999 for a reported $800 million. Under his ownership, the team has seen both successes and controversies. The team won three division titles in his first six years as owner and reached the playoffs five times in his first 10 years. However, the team has also been criticized for its handling of personnel decisions, management style, and controversy over the team’s former name. Snyder has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including founding the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, which aims to support education, health, and family initiatives.

There have been multiple allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Football Team, as well as other members of the team’s executive leadership. These allegations came to light in 2020 and resulted in a significant investigation and changes within the organization. In July 2020, The Washington Post published an article detailing allegations of sexual harassment and a toxic workplace culture within the team. The article included claims of inappropriate behavior by team executives and widespread misconduct within the team’s cheerleading squad. The investigation also implicated Snyder, alleging that he was aware of the misconduct but failed to address it adequately. Following the article’s publication, the NFL launched its investigation into the team’s workplace culture. Snyder denied any wrongdoing and stated that he was unaware of the alleged misconduct. The investigation ultimately found that the team’s workplace culture was highly problematic, and the NFL fined Snyder and the team $10 million. As part of the settlement, Snyder agreed to step away from day-to-day team operations and to appoint his wife, Tanya Snyder, as co-CEO. The team also implemented significant changes to its human resources policies and procedures and hired a new general manager and head coach. It’s worth noting that while the allegations against Snyder and the team were highly disturbing, they did not result in any criminal charges against Snyder or other members of the team’s leadership.

Jon Gruden vs Daniel Snyder

There are separate and distinct allegations against Jon Gruden and Daniel Snyder, so I will provide information on each of them:

1. Jon Gruden: In October 2021, Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, resigned from his position after the New York Times reported that he had used racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language in several emails sent over a period of several years. The emails were discovered as part of an investigation into workplace misconduct within the Washington Football Team, where Gruden worked as a consultant from 2004 to 2008.

The emails contained derogatory comments about several groups, including women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Gruden apologized for his comments but ultimately chose to resign from his position as head coach of the Raiders.

2. Daniel Snyder: In 2020, allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct were made against Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Football Team. These allegations were part of a wider investigation into workplace culture within the team, which was conducted by the NFL after a series of reports in the media.

The investigation found that the team’s workplace culture was highly problematic, with widespread allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and intimidation. While the investigation did not find evidence of Snyder’s direct involvement in the misconduct, it did find that he failed to create an appropriate workplace culture and failed to respond adequately to reports of misconduct. As a result of the investigation, the NFL fined Snyder and the team $10 million, and Snyder agreed to step away from day-to-day team operations and to appoint his wife, Tanya Snyder, as co-CEO. The team also implemented significant changes to its human resources policies and procedures and hired a new general manager and head coach.

New Owner Josh Harris

Is an American billionaire investor and philanthropist who is best known as the co-founder and senior managing director of Apollo Global Management, which is one of the largest alternative asset management firms in the world. Harris was born on August 3, 1965, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States. Harris co-founded Apollo Global Management with Leon Black and Marc Rowan in 1990, and the firm has since grown to manage over $400 billion in assets across a variety of investment strategies, including private equity, credit, real estate, and infrastructure. Harris has been actively involved in managing the firm’s private equity investments, and he has played a key role in several high-profile deals, including the leveraged buyouts of Harrah’s Entertainment, LyondellBasell, and Caesars Entertainment. In addition to his work in finance, Harris is also a prominent philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to various causes. He serves on the board of trustees for the University of Pennsylvania, and he has made significant donations to support education, the arts, and medical research. Harris is also a minority owner of several professional sports teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and the New Jersey Devils of the NHL.