5 former cheerleaders advised The New York Occasions in 2018 that they had been pressured by the crew to take part in a topless photograph shoot and an evening out with male sponsors throughout a 2013 journey to Costa Rica. In the summertime of 2020, The Washington Submit printed two investigations during which a complete of 40 girls who labored for the crew detailed sexual harassment and verbal abuse by male staff.
Along with overseeing what a primary N.F.L. investigation concluded was a “extremely unprofessional” office, Snyder additionally was accused straight of misconduct. A lady who had been a advertising and marketing and occasions coordinator stated at a congressional spherical desk final yr that Snyder put his hand on her thigh throughout a piece dinner in 2005 or 2006 and that she resisted his makes an attempt to guide her to his limousine. (Snyder stated she was mendacity.) Moreover, The Washington Submit reported {that a} crew worker accused Snyder of sexually harassing and assaulting her in 2009 earlier than reaching a $1.6 million confidential settlement.
As an alternative of attempting to drum Snyder out, the N.F.L. confirmed him an escape hatch. It levied a $10 million advantageous towards the crew in 2021 but additionally allowed Snyder to borrow $450 million and purchase out his restricted companions, consolidating his management, and withheld the written report that detailed the findings of the primary league-sponsored investigation into the Commanders’ office. However whereas the crew repeatedly pointed to the steps it was taking to overtake its office tradition, Snyder saved preventing again, dropping his grip on the franchise as he did.
In court docket filings, he accused his restricted companions and his former longtime crew president, Bruce Allen, of doubtless enjoying a job in disparaging his popularity by spreading what he claimed was false info. The congressional inquiry, which examined the crew’s and the league’s dealing with of the rampant claims of harassment, discovered that Snyder directed a “shadow investigation” to intrude with the N.F.L.’s first probe into his crew. His techniques included utilizing personal investigators to harass and intimidate witnesses and making a file of the individuals who had levied claims towards the crew.
Final February, the N.F.L. launched a second investigation into Snyder and the Commanders in response to new accusations of harassment and monetary malfeasance uncovered by the congressional probe. N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell has dedicated to releasing the findings of this investigation publicly, no matter whether or not Snyder continues to be a crew proprietor when it concludes.
Snyder’s defiance characterised a lot of his decision-making because the crew proprietor. He tried fruitlessly to purchase the franchise one other Tremendous Bowl title by providing free-agent offers no different membership would make. He lengthy stood by his crew’s racist nickname, asserting to USA Right now in 2013 that he would “by no means” change it, regardless of rising public opposition and Native Individuals talking out concerning the hurt it precipitated. A number of years later, he was pressured to alter it underneath stress from company sponsors.
Snyder had myriad alternatives to right course and to take critically the claims made towards him and his crew. Passing up these probabilities spelled his exit — a remaining failure that cemented his legacy but additionally offered hope for a once-proud franchise that would use some.
