The NFL went into collective shock and mourning on Wednesday evening (May 21) when the Indianapolis Colts announced the death of owner Jim Irsay. For the Washington Commanders' fan base, they will always remember him with great fondness for one big reason.
Irsay was an charismatic figure. A firecracker personality and outgoing persona were matched by a deep care for his players past and present. His untimely passing at 65 years old came with an outpouring of tributes across social media, with everyone from Tony Dungy to Peyton Manning and Pat McAfee highlighting his special qualities and how much he'll be sorely missed.
Jim Irsay was the first owner to speak out against former Commanders tyrant Dan Snyder
All of Irsay's positive traits and selfless work in the community will rightfully be discussed in detail over the coming days. However, fans of Washington's football franchise will remember him as the first owner to speak out against the tyrannical, incompetent Dan Snyder.
Irsay was the first to publicly state that Snyder should be ousted from ownership. Having such an influential figure throw his weight behind fans' demands was a massive step forward at the time. Momentum slowly built thereafter. The reclusive, disgraced billionaire was eventually forced to part ways with the Commanders once Josh Harris' group met the $6.05 billion asking price.
Who knows where the Commanders would be now had Irsay not tipped the scales? There didn't seem to be much urgency to remove Snyder from the equation despite the constant stream of disgraceful incidents he brought to the NFL's door. His comments went against the grain, which set off a chain of events that led to his long-awaited exile.
And make no mistake, the Commanders are in a much better place.
Harris turned things around in no uncertain terms. There was an immediate investment in the current facilities. The right people were hired to run the football operation. Ambitions plans for a new stadium were cemented, and the 2027 NFL Draft is coming to the National Mall in D.C.
Oh, and the Commanders just so happened to win 12 regular-season contests and reach the NFC Championship game in Year 1 under head coach Dan Quinn.
None of this happens with Snyder at the helm. His departure would have happened over time, but Irsay triggered it much sooner than most demoralized fans expected.
And every single Washington fan should be thankful for that.
