The Washington Commanders are set to play in the NFC Championship game on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington has had one of their best seasons in recent memory. The team’s former owner, Dan Snyder, has not been part of this successful run, and according to a source close to Snyder, “He… hates it.” Snyder sold his ownership of the Commanders over a year ago, and before that, the team had little success in the postseason. Now, the Washington Commanders can make the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991.
Dan Snyder’s Ownership

Snyder owned the Washington Commanders from 1999 to 2023. During that time, the team had a couple of good seasons and playoff runs but never reached the level of the current squad. They went through many head coaches to varying levels of success. When Snyder bought the team, Norv Turner was the head coach but was fired by Snyder in 2000. Turner had coached Washington to the Divisional Round the year before and had a 7-6 record, and the firing immediately backfired. This was a prelude to many of Snyder’s hands-on decisions that would prove controversial for the Washington Commanders and their goals of winning.
Snyder’s hands-on approach proved harmful for the Washington Commanders over the years. He was notorious for signing big-name free agents who were past their prime and would fire coaches regularly. One of the biggest casualties of Snyder’s ownership was Robert Griffin III. Griffin III had a stellar rookie season, taking Washington to the playoffs. But he was injured and subsequently rushed back before he was fully healthy. This led to more injuries and Griffin III’s promising career was derailed. Since then, the team has gone through many quarterbacks, from Kirk Cousins to Taylor Heineke, with little consistent success.
The Washington Commanders also never won consistently under Snyder. After they were one of the best franchises in the NFL throughout the 80s and 90s, Washington only made the playoffs a handful of times under Snyder. Before this season, the Washington Commanders had not had a winning record since 2016. During that time, they only made the playoffs once with a 7-9 record. The most games they ever won in a regular season was 10 games and they surpassed that this season, winning 12. Many fans were happy to see Snyder gone for the dysfunction his ownership brought and the lack of postseason success.
The Washington Commanders Season

In their first full season without Dan Snyder, the Washington Commanders went 12-5. They made it to the playoffs, where they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round and upset the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. Much of this success can be attributed to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels threw for 3,568 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns. He was integral in turning the team around and bringing them further than anyone expected at the start of the season. Under head coach Dan Quinn and new ownership, they have made it further than they ever did with Snyder and the former owner is envious.
NFC Championship

In the NFC Championship game, the Washington Commanders will go on the road to face their division rivals. The Commanders and Eagles split their regular season meetings. In the first game, the Eagles won convincingly, and in the second, the Commanders pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback. This game will be the rubber match and decide a trip to the Super Bowl. Washington could make their first Super Bowl since 1991, which is something they never came close to when they were owned by Snyder. Dan Snyder is upset by the success of his former team, but many see it as a positive to how good the franchise can be without him.