Assessing the motivations of Redskins owner Dan Snyder

Dan Snyder has owned the Redskins franchise for nineteen years. And for nineteen years, he’s been a detriment to the team.

In his nineteen year stint as the Washington Redskins‘ owner, the biggest knock on Dan Snyder is that he’s been far too involved in the football decisions, and far too little success has amounted from such involvement.

We can talk all day about other issues: Preseason ticket prices, scandals that come back every now and then, but ultimately, the state of the franchise is defined by the state of the team. If the Redskins win, the brand is marketable.

Winning hasn’t been a common commodity for the Redskins over Snyder’s tenure, but as much as some may long for it to happen, Snyder isn’t leaving anytime soon. So why might he change his ways, this far into his time as the Redskins’ owner?

The first word that comes to mind is legacy. Everyone who dabbles with the sport of football wants to be remembered, and remembered for something great. Players, for moments on the biggest stage. Coaches, for consistency, chemistry, and championships. And owners wish to lead their teams to that legacy. To direct a winning operation, one that can longingly be remembered thirty years into the future. For an owner with an ego like Snyder, his legacy is a tempting bargaining chip.

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Snyder wants to succeed. And he is capable of learning. He’s shown himself to be stubborn over the years, but after so much time, and after so much uninterrupted failure, perhaps Snyder has connected the dots. Perhaps he’s come to the realization that if the Redskins are going to change, he needs to change.

It’s hard to expect so much from a public figure who’s been known to have two discernible qualities: His inflated ego, and his relative lack of football knowledge. But over time, anyone can learn, if given the opportunity. Sometimes, learning takes losing. Snyder’s done enough of that, to the point where even he knows that his methods and roles, as well as Bruce Allen’s, need to change.

The evidence for this change is mounting. The Redskins kept Jay Gruden even after a 7-9 season in 2017, suggesting that Snyder is willing to be more lenient with his embattled coach. Several new faces, such as Brian Lafemina and Jake Bye, are rising up the front office ladder, along with cap guru Eric Schaffer. Doug Williams has taken on an increased role in player management, and behind the mind of upstart talent evaluator Kyle Smith, the Redskins have a very solid 2018 draft class on paper.

This partitioning of roles suggests that Dan Snyder is doing what no one thought he could do. He is taking a step back. He is resisting the urge to make drastic decisions, in favor of long-term continuity. And most importantly, he’s letting the football people manage football.

But why would Snyder do this? Why, after nineteen years of no change?

Next: Redskins: The case for a downtown D.C. stadium

Because the health of his legacy demands it. The best decisions are not always made with the best intentions.

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