Where Dan Snyder’s Commanders parting fine of $60 million ranks in NFL history (2024)

Fines:$500,000

Irsay took a dent for a driving-under-the-influence charge after pleading guilty in 2014. Belichick was, of course, fined this amount for the infamous “Spygate” exploits during the 2007 season. Meanwhile, the Saints took one on the chin after it was revealed they were placing “bounties” on injuring players during their 2009 Super Bowl championship season. Because this is America and we don’t know how to creatively label most scandals, you might remember the incident more as “Bountygate.”

Fine: $700,000

Sean Payton might be the taste of Denver now, but there was a time he had the Saints skirting COVID-19 protocols designed to keep members of the organization safe. For this, the Saints were forced to pay $700,000 in fines and forfeit a sixth-round draft pick in 2022.

Fine: $760,000

A notable player on the field — Lewis is one of the only players in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a single season — the former Baltimore Raven pleaded guilty to federal drug possession in 2004. He would be fined $760,000 by the league.

Fines:$1 million

The former long-time owner of the San Francisco 49ers (1997-2000), DeBartolo Jr. was fined $1 million after pleading guilty to a felony charge in a Louisiana gambling scandal with former governor Edwin Edwards. After the fact, DeBartolo Jr. was forced to step down from his ownership mantel.

Meanwhile, nearly a decade after Spygate, the implications of the “Deflategate” scandal in 2015 led to a $1 million fine for Belichick’s Patriots.

Fine: $1.9 million (total)

Long after the end of the John Elway era, the Broncos were forced to pay the piper in 2001 and 2004. The NFL hit Denver with $1.9 million in fines for circumventing the salary cap on their contracts with Elway and Terrell Davis in the mid-90s.

Fine: $5 million

Deshaun Watson — who once faced more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct for what the NFLwould later describe as “predatory behavior” — was fined $5 million and suspended for 11 games in 2022.

Fine: $10 million

Let’s be honest: The Commanders under Snyder set their own embarrassingly low standards. Following a 2021 investigation that concluded the organization actively created a hostile work environment, especially for women, Washington was fined a then-record $10 million.

Fine: $60 million

Now officially an independent operator outside of the Commanders’ purview, Snyder’s $60 million fine from a financial misconduct investigation by former SEC chair Mary Jo White is by far the largest in league history. A fitting parting gift to one of the worst owners pro football has ever seen.