Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder has told associates close to him that he has “dirt” on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other team owners and has said he won’t lose his franchise without a fight, according to an explosive new report from ESPN.
The sports network reported Thursday that Snyder has claimed that he has gathered enough secrets to “blow up” the league, with the embattled billionaire saying privately that the NFL can’t “f—- with me.”
The report came the morning of Washington’s Thursday night showdown against the Chicago Bears and days before the NFL’s quarterly owners meetings. ESPN reported that “many” owners and league executives would like to see Snyder ousted from the NFL.
According to ESPN, Snyder has claimed that the NFL is a “mafia” in which all owners hate each other. One anonymous owner disputed that, telling the outlet: “That’s not true. We all hate Dan.”
ESPN, citing sources, reported that Snyder is believed to have files on at least six owners, including Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones and Snyder were seen together Oct. 2, when the two greeted each other before the Commanders’ loss to the Cowboys.
Snyder reportedly told another team owner that he has “dirt” on Jones, while another confidant said Snyder told him that he has a “file” on the Cowboys owner.
“It’s hard to imagine a piece that is more categorically untrue,” a team spokesperson said in a statement when reached for comment on ESPN’s report, “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.”
Snyder is under at least four investigations as the House Oversight and Reform Committee, the NFL and the attorney general offices in Virginia and the District look into the billionaire in light of Washington’s workplace misconduct scandal.
In July 2021, the NFL fined the team $10 million and said Snyder would voluntarily give up control of “day-to-day” control of his franchise for “several months” after more than 40 employees said it witnessed or experienced sexual harassment while working for the team.
The league has since launched another probe that remains ongoing as former employees accused Snyder of sexual misconduct and the team of financial improprieties. Those allegations, which Snyder denies, were first raised in Congress’ probe of Snyder.
In February, former employee Tiffani Johnston told members of Congress that Snyder made an unwanted advance by touching her thigh underneath a dinner table and by later trying to coax her into his limo. The incident, according to Johnston’s lawyers, is alleged to have happened in the spring of 2006.