Colts' Irsay: 'There is merit to remove' Dan Snyder as Commanders owner
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday he would support the decision to remove Dan Snyder as owner of the Washington Commanders.
"It's a difficult situation," Irsay said, according to Tom Rock of Newsday Sports. "I believe there is merit to remove him as owner of the (Commanders)."
"I believe that's the road we have to go down. ... It's in the best interest of the National Football League," Irsay added, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.
Irsay is the first team owner to publicly back the removal of Snyder.
Snyder's ownership of the team has been widely criticized due to scandals and investigations into workplace conduct, and many around the NFL have pressured him to sell the team.
A recent report from ESPN states that Snyder allegedly tried to influence other owners and the league office to maintain control of the Commanders. He's reportedly said he has enough information to expose NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and fellow owners. The Commanders have denied the accusations.
"Some of the things I've heard don't represent us at all," Irsay said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I want the American public to know what we're about as owners. ... I believe it's in the best interest of the National Football League that we look at this squarely in the eyes and deal with it."
Snyder called allegations of hiring private investigators to look into other NFL owners and Goodell "patently false" in a letter sent to all owners Tuesday.
"That is patently false and intended to erode the trust and goodwill between owners that I take quite seriously," Snyder said in the letter. "I have never hired any private investigator to look into any owner or the commissioner. I have never instructed or authorized my lawyers to hire any private investigator on my behalf for any such purpose. And I never would.
It'd take 24 of the other 31 owners to vote for Snyder's removal. Irsay said Tuesday he believes there "potentially" are 24 votes, though there's no plan to vote on Snyder's status, according to Breer.
"Every owner looks at it differently," Irsay added. "It's not something personal; it's about the interest of the NFL and how we are represented in the world."
A Commanders spokesperson addressed Irsay's comments in a statement Tuesday:
"It is highly inappropriate, but not surprising, that Mr. Irsay opted to make statements publicly based on falsehoods in the media," the statement reads, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Irsay decided to go public with his statement today, while an investigation is in process, and the team has had no opportunity to formally respond to allegations.
"The Commanders have made remarkable progress over the past two years. We are confident that, when he has an opportunity to see the actual evidence in this case, Mr. Irsay will conclude that there is no reason for the Snyders to consider selling the franchise. And they won't."
Snyder has owned the team since 1999. In July 2021, the NFL fined the team $10 million and said Snyder would step away from day-to-day operations for several months after an independent investigation into Washington's workplace culture.
The investigation, conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson, began after 15 former female employees reported sexual harassment and/or verbal abuse from club executives.
Additional ex-employees accused Snyder and other former members of the organization of sexual harassment and misconduct in 2020, leading to an ongoing investigation by the NFL.
"This is a situation that has a long, long history," Irsay said.
"There hasn't been this type of removal (in the NFL). ... I think at this point there has to be serious consideration to move forward."
"I'm very concerned that he needs to be removed," Irsay added, per Pelissero.
Goodell addressed Irsay's comments on Snyder later Tuesday, telling members of the media that the report on the current Commanders investigation will be shared once it's completed.
"It's an ongoing investigation. When Mary Jo White is done with the investigation, we'll share the report," Goodell said, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "There's no reason for speculation until we have (it)."