NFL Rumors: Jeff Bezos Won't Bid on Commanders; Josh Harris Group Only Contender

Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos has no intention of bidding on the Washington Commanders, per A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports.

"Bezos hired the sports banking firm Allen & Company to explore a bid for the team in February, and reps for the firm have monitored the bidding process in the weeks since," Perez wrote. "Ultimately, the world's third-richest person decided not to bid on the Commanders."

Bezos deciding not to bid leaves the group headed by Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris as the only serious contender to purchase the Commanders, per Perez.

Mark Maske, Nicki Jhabvala and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reported in February that Bezos had hired investment firm Allen & Company to evaluate a possible bid for the Commanders.

Maske, Jhabvala and Clarke noted that Bezos was at least interested in "conducting due diligence and potentially in moving forward in the process."

Billionaire industrial firm co-founder Mitchell Rales and former NBA star Magic Johnson are also included in Harris' bidding group, which is said to have an offer out worth between $5.5 billion and $6 billion.

Perez reported last month that Harris' bid "is the only offer made so far that is backed with the financial resources needed to get through the NFL's vetting process."

A winning bidder is expected to be announced before the NFL owners meetings in May, per Perez.

Commanders owners Daniel and Tanya Snyder announced in November that they had hired Bank of America Securities to consider potential transactions involving the franchise. The Washington Post then reported in December that the Snyders selling the entire franchise versus just a portion of it was considered "the most likely outcome."

Daniel and Tanya Snyder are not being forced to sell the Commanders, but they have faced pressure to do so amid investigations into alleged workplace misconduct and financial improprieties.

If the Commanders are sold for $5-plus billion, the sale will set an NFL record, surpassing the $4.65 billion Walmart heir Rob Walton paid for the Denver Broncos in August. The franchise is currently valued at $5.6 billion, according to Forbes.

Daniel Snyder purchased the team in 1999 for $800 million.