Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta placed $5.5 billion bid to buy Commanders

The number of potential buyers for the Washington Commanders is continuing to build.

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta put in a bid of about $5.5 billion in an attempt to secure the Commanders, according to the Washington Post. 

Dan Snyder, the embattled owner of the Commanders since 1999, is looking for about $6 billion, which puts Feritta’s bid under the asking price to buy the NFL franchise.

Fertitta, who bought the Rockets back in 2017,  visited the Commanders’ facility earlier this month, and despite the bid, is not seen as the frontrunner to purchase the team, per the Washington Post.

The 65-year-old has competition – 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris also placed a bet. If one of the two win the auction, they would be the fourth owner to control both an NBA and NFL team. 

Jeff Bezos, a rival of Snyder, was reportedly prevented from entering a bid, although the Amazon founder wanted to buy the team. The Commanders owner is still reportedly upset over a Bezos-owned Washington Post probe and subsequent articles published about Snyder and other Commanders bosses allegedly enabling a toxic workplace culture, including sexual harassment.

Following the exposition, Snyder took a step back from the franchise and his wife Tanya became the public face of the Commanders.

The Snyders later announced they were planning to sell the Commanders after they hired Bank of America in November 2022.

The NFL owner’s meeting in March will decide the Commanders’ future. It’s unclear if the Snyders plan on selling the entire franchise or only part of it.