It’s been a rough couple of months for the Washington Football Team. Minority owners started threatening to sell their stock in the team over the team’s former name, the Redskins, sponsors threatened to drop out of sponsoring, and official gear websites pulled all merchandise from the shelves. After a few weeks of scrutiny, the team changed their name to the Washington Football Team and were followed with a sexual assault/harassment article published in the Washington Post.
Minority owners have been clamoring the last week for the team owner, Dan Snyder, to sell his 60% of the team. His response? Let’s make NFL history.
We are happy to announce that we have appointed Jason Wright as Team President. pic.twitter.com/nIoUvoKON9
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 17, 2020
This morning, August 17th, the Washington Football Team announced that Jason Wright, a former NFL veteran running back and partner with McKinsey and Company (a large advisory firm), was hired as the team president. Wright is the first black man to hold such a title in NFL history.
There are no questions regarding Wright’s qualifications. Senior Bowl director, Jim Nagy, released the scouting notes that he had taken on Wright when he was coming out of college attempting to go pro.
Notes from our scouting report on new @WashingtonNFL President Jason Wright when we scouted him at @NUFBFamily in 2004:
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 17, 2020
* “best kid you’ll ever meet”
* want your daughter to marry type
* elected captain by teammates
* 3.3 gpa Pre-Med (took MCAT)
* photographic memory
(1 of 2)
* excellent public speaker
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 17, 2020
* leads team chapel services
* president of fraternity
* always upbeat & positive
* very good work habits
* “always does extra”
* works in campus housing office
* enjoys comm service & volunteering
* sang national anthem at Big 10 hoops championship
What this means for Washington
The culture in Washington has needed a change badly for a long, long time. The value of the team has dipped significantly under Snyder, to the point where investors in the company have been trying to sell out of the team.
First let me say Snyder has done an awful job and Redskins fans deserve a better owner. What is also true is that these guys still bought pieces of the time knowing the name. They didn’t buy it as Warriors and then Snyder change it later. They are using this as cover. https://t.co/AWc8PFXFuz
— AngryNFLScoutVet (@AngryScoutVet) July 5, 2020
Dan Snyder has been a terrible owner. Money and profits have been his ultimate goal since buying the team, which has played out horribly on the rest of the team and the fans. The people who ran the team before were awful, as displayed by the Washington Post story.
So excited to join the movement that the Snyders and Coach Rivera have launched. Ready to dive in! https://t.co/kmeFKsCKKp
— Jason Wright (@whoisjwright) August 17, 2020
It is important to note that Washington is trying to make serious cultural changes. Not only was the hiring of head coach Ron Rivera a headliner, but it was also a tone-setter. Rivera flipped the Carolina Panthers into a competitive team that went to the Super Bowl.
Wright acknowledges this on his twitter today. He understands that character will help rebuild the team and make them a competitive organization again. Wright is the perfect high character fit for the team.
Thank you so much brother. I owe so much to my time leading the ream alongside you and others in AZ. See you soon my friend ;)… https://t.co/MRd3gY9RWw
— Jason Wright (@whoisjwright) August 17, 2020
It looks like Dan Snyder might finally realize this too.