NFL commissioner calls on Congress to secure Commanders’ future at RFK site
WASHINGTON - With Congress nearing the end of its legislative session, the future home of the Washington Commanders remains uncertain as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell lobbies Capitol Hill to transfer the RFK Stadium site to the D.C. government.
Goodell spent the week meeting with lawmakers from both parties, advocating for the transfer of the federal land where the dilapidated RFK Stadium now stands.
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 01: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell looks on prior to a game between the Washington Commanders and the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
The move could clear the way for the Commanders to return to their historic home in Washington.
"We’ve had conversations with various members of both parties in both the House and the Senate, including the leadership. I think there’s bipartisan support for this," Goodell said.
DC invests in RFK Stadium plans for Commanders' return
Washington, D.C., may be one step closer to bringing the Commanders back to the RFK Stadium site.
The legislation, if approved, would allow the Commanders to build a new stadium on the site along the Anacostia River.
Goodell emphasized the urgency of Congress acting before the session concludes, saying, "We hope that it will be addressed and approved so that it’s at least an alternative for the Commanders going forward. As someone who grew up in Washington, I know it would be exciting for a lot of fans to have that potential."
However, Maryland officials are pushing back, hoping to retain the Commanders in Prince George’s County.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has accused Maryland of stalling the RFK site legislation to secure federal funding for Baltimore’s Key Bridge reconstruction.
"I think my comments speak for themselves," Bowser said, referencing a report from The Washington Post about her remarks in a private meeting. "In the legislative process, there are twists and turns. There are negotiations. And we believe the parties are negotiating in good faith. But now it’s time to move the legislation. It’s time to move the legislation. It’s time to move the legislation."
Bowser launches new inquiries in push to bring Commanders to RFK Stadium
The D.C. government is commissioning a study on how to draw more revenue in through sports and Mayor Muriel Bowser made no bones about it last week: She thinks the Washington Commanders should be playing games at the RFK Stadium site.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore responded, asserting Maryland’s position as the best site for the Commanders.
"We know we have the vision for how you can create a full, all-encompassing environment where you not just have winners on the field but also off the field," Moore said. "I’m not afraid of competition. Maryland is going to put up the best opportunity."
While some have suggested Maryland’s stance hinges on securing guarantees for federal funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Key Bridge, Moore avoided directly linking the two issues.
As the debate unfolds, fans and lawmakers alike await a resolution on where the Commanders will call home, a decision tied to both history and the region’s future development.