ESPN Report Details Dan Snyder’s ‘Blackmail PowerPoint’ Against Goodell, NFL

In June 2021, the embattled executive reportedly went after NFL officials.

Commanders owner Dan Snyder's legal team allegedly presented a PowerPoint that contained blackmail material for top league executives during a meeting about Washington's workplace misconduct, according to a new report from ESPN. This presentation became known in league circles as the “Blackmail PowerPoint.”

The presentation took place at NFL headquarters in June 2021, where his coalition of lawyers was tasked with presenting a defense against Beth Wilkinson’s investigation into team misconduct. Instead, his legal team allegedly presented the slideshow that included screenshots of embarrassing emails and texts from top personnel. None of the content was sexist, anti-LGBTQ or graphic.

Tension between commissioner Roger Goodell and Snyder was reportedly already at an all-time high before the “Blackmail PowerPoint.” NFL executives were reportedly furious after the presentation—a ploy meant to suppress the Wilkinson investigation and influence Snyder’s discipline—and were encouraging Goodell to hand down firm punishment. However, the tactic proved successful, and Snyder was reportedly “dictating his punishment” down to every detail, according to ESPN. 

Wilkinson investigated allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct within the Washington franchise. She was originally hired by Snyder as an internal investigator—reportedly so he could “keep the league office at arm’s distance”—but the NFL took over in August 2020. The league and Snyder's team struck an agreement: Both sides agreed to share all evidence and material collected, and neither party would release any information without the other’s permission, per ESPN. 

The NFL fined the Commanders $10 million on July 1, 2021, but her findings were never released. It also announced Snyder would step away from day-to-day operations “for at least the next several months.” ESPN reported NFL executives consulted Snyder and his team before releasing the Wilkinson investigation press announcement. The word “suspension” was never used in the release.

Snyder remains the team's owner for now. He and his wife, Tanya, agreed to sell the franchise to 76ers and Devils co-owner Josh Harris in May for $6.05 billion.