Washington Football Team Fined $10M After NFL Investigation

ASHBURN, VA — The Washington Football Team has been fined $10 million by the NFL. The franchise was under investigation after former cheerleaders and employees reported sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace.

The investigation from the NFL determined that the Washington Football Team's workplace was "highly unprofessional," especially for female employees. Investigators said Dan Snyder, the team's owner, is responsible for the workplace culture.

"Owners are obligated to set an appropriate tone and establish appropriate standards and instill an ethic of respect at the club," the NFL said in a news release detailing the results of the investigation. "This did not occur at the Washington club for far too long, and Dan Snyder has acknowledged his personal responsibility for that failure."

The NFL's investigation was conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson, whose firm interviewed more than 150 employees of the team, primarily current but also former workers.

"Bullying and intimidation frequently took place and many described the culture as one of fear, and numerous female employees reported having experienced sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace," the NFL said. "Ownership and senior management paid little or no attention to these issues."

After reviewing the results of Wilkinson's investigation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decided to fine the club $10 million. The fine will support organizations committed to character education and anti-bullying, according to the NFL.

As part of the investigation, the NFL also outlined 10 recommendations for the club going forward. They included harassment reporting protocols, culture surveys, a more diverse workforce, a disciplinary action plan and regular training on bullying and sexual harassment.

"I agree with the Commissioner’s decisions in this matter and am committed to implementing his investigation’s important recommendations," Snyder said in a news release.

"I feel great remorse for the people who had difficult, even traumatic, experiences while working here," Snyder said. "I’m truly sorry for that. I can’t turn back the clock, but I promise that nobody who works here will ever have that kind of experience again."

Snyder also noted that he would be stepping away from the daily management of the team, and his wife Tanya Snyder would oversee day-to-day operations. "I will concentrate my time during the next several months on developing a new stadium plan and other matters," he said.

Read more: Tanya Snyder Named Co-CEO Of Washington Football Team

The team had previously reached a settlement with former cheerleaders who alleged they experienced sexual harassment from members of the franchise's front office, according to the Washington Post. The NFL specifically recommended the team work to protect cheerleaders, or their replacements, in the future.

Read more: No More Cheerleaders For The Washington Football Team

The NFL's report highlighted the franchise's personnel changes since the end of the 2019 season. In that time, the Washington Football Team hired Ron Rivera as head coach, and hired a diverse range of executives to front office positions, the NFL said.

"Over the last 18 months we have made a lot of changes," Snyder said. "And while there has been real progress, we are not finished, and will continue to improve in every way that we can."