So, you’re sitting there, probably with a lukewarm coffee, and you wonder: what was the last NFL team sold? It feels like a trivia question, right? Like, was it the Commanders? The Broncos? Let’s cut through the noise.
The simple answer is the Washington Commanders. That’s the one. The sale closed in July 2023, which, in NFL years, feels like five minutes ago.
But wait—don’t click away yet. The story is way juicier than the date. A group led by Josh Harris (the guy who also owns the Philadelphia 76ers) paid a ridiculous $6.05 billion for the franchise. Yes, billion with a B. That’s the highest price ever paid for a sports team, anywhere, ever. Yikes.
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The Dan Snyder Era: A Comedy of Errors?
To understand why this sale happened, you have to talk about the previous owner, Dan Snyder. He was… let’s say, polarizing. Actually, that’s too nice. Fans hated him like a bad cold.
For over two decades, Snyder was a lightning rod for controversy. There were financial scandals, workplace culture issues, and a name change that took forever. The team’s on-field performance? Mostly mediocre. It was a dumpster fire with a helmet on top.
By 2022, the other NFL owners were basically begging Snyder to sell. It was like watching a guest overstay their welcome at a party, except the party had $100 billion in TV contracts. He finally agreed, and the fanbase let out a collective sigh of relief you could hear from space.
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Okay, But What About the Broncos?
I know, I know. You’re thinking: Didn’t the Broncos just sell, too? You’re not wrong. The Denver Broncos were sold in 2022 to the Walton-Penner group (yes, the Walmart family) for $4.65 billion. That was a huge story at the time.
But the Commanders sale happened after that. So the Broncos were the second-to-last team sold. The Commanders are the most recent. Think of it like a movie sequel—Broncos were the blockbuster, Commanders was the even bigger blockbuster with more drama.
And the irony? The Broncos sale was supposed to be the “record breaker.” Then the Commanders came along and smashed that record like a window in a video game. The NFL market is absolutely insane.
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Why Are NFL Teams So Expensive?
Great question, imaginary friend. It’s because the NFL prints money. Literally. They have a $10 billion TV deal, gambling revenue, and merch sales that would make a Kardashian jealous. A team is basically a license to print cash.
Plus, there are only 32 teams. Supply is tiny, demand is huge. It’s like owning a rare Pokémon card that also generates profit. Every rich person on earth wants one, and they are willing to pay stupid amounts of money.
So, the Commanders sale wasn’t just a sale—it was a signal. A sign that NFL teams are now assets in the same league as gold bars or tropical islands. Except way, way more valuable.
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Was There Another Sale I Missed?
You might be thinking: Did the Washington Football Team (their old name) sell before that? Nope. The team was officially sold as the Commanders. The rebrand happened in 2020, but the ownership stayed the same until 2023.
What about the Miami Dolphins? Sold in 2009. Buffalo Bills? Sold in 2014. Carolina Panthers? 2018. So the list of recent sales is short, but loud.
The next team that might get sold is anyone’s guess. The Cincinnati Bengals have the Brown family, who seem locked in forever. The New Orleans Saints? Maybe, but nothing is on the table right now.
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So, What’s the Takeaway?
The last NFL team sold was the Washington Commanders. It was a mess, a record-breaker, and a relief for fans all rolled into one. Josh Harris is now the “savior,” but let’s be real: he’s a billionaire buying a toy.
Will the team actually get better on the field? That’s the $6 billion question. The Commanders haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1991, and they haven’t been truly relevant in a decade. Harris has a lot of work to do.
But hey, at least the new guy isn’t Dan Snyder. That alone is worth the price of admission. So, grab another coffee, talk about it with your buddies, and remember: in the NFL, everything is always for sale—for the right price.
And the next sale? Probably will happen before you finish this article. The NFL never sleeps. Neither does the money.