Why Matthew McConaughey could be key to Jeff Bezos buying the Commanders

Washington Commanders fans and the greater D.C. area rejoiced last week when Dan Snyder took a major step in the direction of selling the franchise. The subject of multiple investigations, including one piloted by the NFL, Snyder hired Bank of America Securities to explore selling the team Snyder has owned since 1999.

It still has yet to be confirmed if Snyder will sell the team altogether or just a minority share, but fans are starting to get a good idea about who could succeed the embattled owner should he choose to abandon ship.

While billionaires Byron Allen and Matt Ishbia are interested in pursuing the Commanders, the ownership group everyone is talking about is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and hip hop legend Jay-Z. Bezos and Jay-Z would likely add more parities to fortify their position against other bidders, and that appears to be what’s materializing behind the scenes.

Per the New York Post, actor Matthew McConaughey is exploring joining or leading a group of investors to bid on the Commanders. The Post understands McConaughey is keen on joining the Bezos/Jay-Z-led contingent.

While Bezos and Jay-Z alone could purchase the Commanders, McConaughey could hold the key to Snyder selling to a Bezos-led ownership group.

Is Matthew McConaughey the key to Dan Snyder selling the Commanders to Jeff Bezos?

A lifelong fan of the Commanders, McConaughey is also good friends with Snyder. That’s an important variable in a potential sale because NBC’s Peter King reported in his latest Football Morning in America column that Snyder won’t sell to Bezos due to the Amazon founder’s ties to the Washington Post.

In 2013, Bezos bought the Washington Post, which has led the charge to remove Snyder from office with its exceptional reporting. Snyder detests the newspaper, so he clearly doesn’t want to sell to the owner of the paper.

McConaughey’s friendship with Snyder could be the key to Bezos’ likely mammoth bid being accepted. Perhaps the Academy-Award-winning actor could warm Snyder up to the idea of Bezos taking the reins of the franchise. The fact McConaughey would be on board could, in theory, ease Snyder’s mind.

The owner is as stubborn as they come, and it’s possible he puts his personal grudge with the Post (and therefore Bezos) over the fact that Bezos could potentially make the highest bid. Would you really put that past Snyder?

"“Matthew has always been a huge fan and his ties with the team go way back,” the source sad, via the New York Post. “They support his foundation and he’s good pals with Dan Snyder — he and [supermodel wife Camila Alves] were on Dan’s yacht over the Super Bowl last year.”"

McConaughey, born and raised in Texas, is no stranger to the sports ownership world, as he’s the co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Austin FC.

The “Dallas Buyers Club” star has been a Commanders fan since he was a kid. At four years old, Washington linebacker Chris Hanburger had the same name as McConaughey’s favorite food and he’s been in love with the team ever since.

Given Snyder’s sheer hated for the Washington Post, McConaughey could be the last piece to the Bezos puzzle.