Reports: Deal struck to return Commanders to DC
Washington NFL's franchise has not played in its namesake city since 1996, but multiple news outlets reported Sunday that plans to return to the site of RFK Stadium could be announced as soon as Monday.
The Commanders and the District of Columbia have come to terms on an agreement, although specifics were not immediately announced. Previous reports floated a price tag of more than $3 billion.
The team is under contract to remain at its current home, Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., until the 2027 season but can stay longer pending a move. Commanders owner Josh Harris indicated previously that he wants the team in a new home by 2030.
The franchise, then known as the Redskins, played at RFK Stadium from 1961 to 1996. They won three Super Bowls in a 10-year span, ending with a 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in 1992.
NBC4 television in Washington reported earlier this month that the team would pay as much as $2.5 billion, with the District of Columbia contributing $850 million. The D.C. Council would have to approve the use of taxpayer money, and its members have reportedly been at odds over whether to do so.
Demolition of RFK Stadium began in 2022.
Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Star tight end George Kittle, who spent six seasons with Deebo Samuel on the San Francisco 49ers, came to his former teammate's defense after fans called out his weight in a viral video from minicamp.
Star tight end George Kittle, who spent six seasons with Deebo Samuel on the San Francisco 49ers, came to his former teammate's defense after fans called out his weight in a viral video from minicamp. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers traded star receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. to the Washington Commanders earlier this offseason. Advertisement After Samuel had requested a trade, reports rose that the 49ers could be inclined to move him due to an alarming allegation that he had spent the 2024 season 20 pounds overweight. For Washington, those rumors didn't seem to be an issue when it gave up draft capital to pair Deebo with All-Pro receiver Terry McLaurin and exciting young quarterback Jayden Daniels. Samuel got his first reps with the Commanders this week at mandatory minicamp and speculation about his weight returned after a route-running video went viral. Fans claimed Deebo looked heavier than normal and a touch slower as a result. With nothing better for fans to do, it's not uncommon for social media to turn into a feeding ground for speculating and overanalyzing every glimpse from inside NFL minicamps. That could be the case here, but Deebo's history of weight concerns don't help his cause in avoiding criticism. Advertisement 49ers star tight end George Kittle, who spent six seasons with him in San Francisco, came to his former teammate's defense in the comment section of an aggregator account that was trying to put Samuel on blast. "It's called a group install when players jog thru plays. Knock it off," Kittle said. Fans could be reaching for the tinfoil hats a bit too prematurely here, and Kittle is doing his best to remind the haters and theorists that there is nothing to gossip about regarding Samuel's speed. Physically, Deebo has never been the skinniest guy to begin with. His pads may make his torso look thinner during the season, so seeing him in just a jersey for the first time this year could have caught fans off guard. Advertisement Those initial rumors from March from Matt Barrows of The Athletic hint at the 49ers having faced these thoughts for years. "... But that's a concern. I think the 49ers had that concern the minute he showed up in Santa Clara in 2019 and it never fully went away.' The concern may have been there, but when Samuel shined in 2021 with 18.2 yards per reception and over 1,700 all-purpose yards, nobody seemed to bring up his weight. Part of the reason Samuel excels in rushing is his combination and strength and speed, so it's worth remembering that this body type isn't completely out of the ordinary. Since that All-Pro season with the 49ers, Samuel has seen a decline numbers wise. However, he is still widely considered an elite player because of his unique dual-threat capabilities at the position. Advertisement He'll put that reputation to the test in his first season with the Commanders in 2025. From here on out, we can expect to see regular Deebo updates from training camp to either contradict or defend this criticism. Related: 49ers Receiver Poised for Major Breakout Amid Brandon Aiyuk Rehab Related: Niners' Blockbuster Trade Piece Named Biggest Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
There are multiple factors that make sense for why the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders could swap disgruntled wide receivers.
There are multiple factors that make sense for why the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders could swap disgruntled wide receivers. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers satisfied the request of receiver Deebo Samuel by trading him to the Washington Commanders in March. The Niners inherited draft capital for a player who fans were disappointed in after another season failing to reach his All-Pro pedigree from a few seasons ago. Advertisement Samuel wasn't the only receiver to have difficulties with the franchise in recent years. Last offseason, Brandon Aiyuk stretched his contract holdout all the way through preseason games before eventually signing a four-year $120 million deal to stay in the Bay Area. Aiyuk is now back on the sidelines this offseason ... but for a different reason. He is sitting out OTAs because he suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 last season, and the expectation is that he'll be forced to miss his second straight training camp. While Aiyuk has been present and reportedly encouraging his teammates during workouts, he could be expressing contradicting thoughts away from the practice field. There are also rumors that Aiyuk is upset with the 49ers organization - for reasons unknown - and may prefer to play somewhere else. Advertisement He posted a picture to his Instagram story of an iconic shot of Hall of Famer Terrell Owens working out in his driveway. The original photo was taken when Owens was in an argument with his then Philadelphia Eagles team that led to an ugly situation and him being released soon after. Is Aiyuk insinuating a similar message? Or is this a roll out of some sort of trade request? That's up for interpretation, but it happens to align with another awkward situation involving a receiver on the ... you guessed it, Washington Commanders. And no, it's not Deebo. Washington's All-Pro veteran Terry McLaurin is exercising a holdout from Commanders OTAs amidst his contract negotiations. If this standoff continues, he could desire a move, as well. Advertisement Putting these two stories together, Chase Senior of Chat Sports proposes a trade of Aiyuk for McLaurin straight up. There is a lot to unpack here. First, for the Niners, they could get away with paying less overall if they are able to unload Aiyuk's contract and sign McLaurin to a less expensive extension. That is feasible if Washington is willing to take on Aiyuk's $30 million average salary, which is back loaded pretty heavily over the next three years. For the Commanders, the personnel connections cannot be ignored. The Washington general manager Adam Peters helped draft both Samuel and Aiyuk when he was in San Francisco. That relationship could prove beneficial as he knows Aiyuk's skillset and how he pairs with Samuel as well as anyone. Advertisement Aiyuk, who remains friends with Samuel, is also close with his former college teammate at Arizona State Jayden Daniels, the Commanders' cornerstone quarterback fresh off a stellar Offensive Rookie of the Year showing last year. This deal could benefit both players with a change of scenery and escape from their current predicaments. And from the looks of it, both teams could come away happy, too. This trade pitch is not officially in the works or on the table, but there are a lot of factors that explain how it could work if it was. Don't be surprised if the teams get on the phone and talk about a wide receiver move. Advertisement Again. Related: 49ers Kittle Defends Deebo After Viral Minicamp Video Related: Brandon Aiyuk Attendance Brings Update at 49ers Minicamp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Houston Texans' most impactful 2025 offseason move
Houston Texans' most impactful 2025 offseason move The Houston Texans had an impactful offseason, which has the back-to-back AFC South winners in position to be successful for the long-term future. Despite winning 20 games with Bobby Slowik as the offensive coordinator, Houston knew it needed a chance after losing back-to-back divisional round matchups. DeMeco Ryans fired his former colleague this offseason and landed Los Angeles Rams' pass-game coordinator Nick Caley to serve as a first-time play-caller. While Caley might not have been an offensive coordinator before, his energy, spark and attentiveness have won over multiple Texans' players. Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins called Caley a 'pro' while C.J. Stroud said his new OC has 'laid back personality' but cares about the little details. CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan named the best offseason move by each AFC team, and while Houston had some impactful additions, nothing else came close to the hiring of Caley as offensive coordinator. "The Texans were busy this offseason, reshaping their offensive line and adding a number of new faces to the receiver room. However, the best addition they made came on the coaching staff with the hiring of Nick Caley as their newest offensive coordinator," Sullivan wrote. "After Bobby Slowik fizzled, Caley comes to town with a tremendous résumé. The 42-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay, serving as the tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. Before that, Caley rose through the NFL ranks working under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls in the process. His arrival should help turn the tide of a Texans offense that stalled out far too many times last season." Make no mistake, Caley was brought to Houston to elevate Stroud's persona and creatre a more dynamic passing attack after a woeful finish in 2024. He's also tasked with turning around an offensive line that allowed 54 sacks, including 52 against a quarterback with a sophomore slump. It's only the offseason, but Caley's impact is already being felt in the locker room, and the hope is the results on the field follow suit with more than 10 wins and a division tilte this fall.
