X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Sell The Team! Ranking The NFL's Five Worst Owners

Daniel Snyder - NFL Owner Washington Commanders

Which NFL owners should sell their teams? RotoBaller ranks the NFL's five worst owners who consistently alienate fans, and hurt their franchises on and off the field. Most hated NFL owners.

A bad NFL owner is typically characterized by a combination of factors that hinder the success and stability of the franchise they oversee. In this article, we will take a closer look at the NFL's five worst owners.

A good owner can provide stability, vision, and resources to build a successful team, while a bad owner can create chaos and dysfunction with poor decision-making or a too-frugal financial approach. The five owners on this list have been identified as some of the worst in the NFL, due to their poor track record of running their respective franchises.

From meddling in personnel decisions to failing to invest in their teams financially, the owners on this list have routinely made missteps that have negatively impacted their franchises on and off the field. Some have simply struggled to build a winning culture, while others have alienated their fanbases with their behavior and comments. In this ranking of the five worst owners in the NFL, we will take a closer look at each of these five owners in more detail, and explore their - largely negative - impact on their teams and the league as a whole.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

#5. Jimmy Haslam III, Cleveland Browns

Jimmy Haslam promised change for the long down-trodden Browns when he bought the team from Randy Lerner in 2012. However, it's been more of the same for the struggling Cleveland franchise during Haslam's tenure, as the organization has gone a woeful 59-118-1 in his 11 years at the head of the table.

Haslam's ownership tenure has been marked by losing on the field and bad decisions off it. The Browns have hired five head coaches during Haslam's time owning the team, four of whom were fired and have subsequently never been NFL head coaches again. The fifth - current Cleveland HC Kevin Stefanski - has squeaked out a winning record (26-24) at the helm of the Browns, though he's now suffered two consecutive losing seasons since going 11-5 during the 2020 COVID campaign.

While the coaches put in position by Haslam have been largely underqualified to run a team, they haven't had much help from the organization's player personnel decisions. The team's draft picks and trades have been largely disastrous, and include a litany of disappointing players selected in the first round, including Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, and Justin Gilbert.

As if the horrible coaching hires and terrible draft choices weren't enough, Haslam most recently led the charge to bring disgraced and controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson to Cleveland in a package that included sending three first-round draft picks to the Houston Texans and inking Watson to a contract with $230 million full guaranteed.

 

#4. Dean Spanos, Los Angeles Chargers

Nepotism seems to be a recurring theme when talking about some of the NFL's worst owners and that's the case with Dean Spanos, who inherited the Chargers franchise from his father, Alex Spanos.

Owners that move their teams are always the target of hate from hometown fans and Spanos has certainly drawn the ire of the San Diego faithful for moving the Chargers to Los Angeles in 2017. San Diego was the Chargers' home since 1961, but Spanos relocated the franchise when attempts at building a new, tax-payer-funded stadium in San Diego repeatedly fell through.

Instead of working for a resolution in their home base of nearly six decades, or simply putting up the financing for a stadium himself, the notoriously-thrifty Spanos opted for the financial benefits of sharing a stadium with the Rams in L.A., where visiting fans routinely take over the Chargers' "home" games.

In addition to spurning an entire community, the Spanos-led Bolts have routinely put a mediocre product on the field, despite having the services of players such as Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates for extended periods of time. That legacy of underachieving has now extended to a current Chargers core that includes Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen.

 

#3. Stephen Ross, Miami Dolphins

Not only have the Miami Dolphins only made two playoff appearances during Stephen Ross' 14 years as the owner of the beloved franchise, but his tenure as the Chairman and Managing Partner of the 'Fins has been marked by controversy, questionable practices, and ineptitude of epic proportions.

Ross has reached a level of infamy among NFL owners for his sleazy tactics. An allegation from former Miami head coach Brian Flores - who overachieved with a pitiful Dolphins roster - that Ross offered him a bribe to tank games in 2019 in order to land a high draft pick, led to Flores filing a racial discrimination lawsuit against the league.

In an investigation stemming from that lawsuit, it was discovered that Ross had impermissible communications with both Tom Brady and Sean Payton, which led to a $1.5 million fine and six-month suspension for Ross, as well as the loss of a 2023 first-round draft pick for his team. Ross' poor decision-making and willingness to bend or even outright break the rules have led to legal ramifications for the NFL, while also putting the Dolphins at a competitive disadvantage on the field.

 

#2. Cal McNair, Houston Texans

Another bumbling buffoon that's running an NFL franchise simply thanks to his DNA, D. Cal McNair doesn't technically own the Houston Texans yet - his mother Janice McNair still owns the team - but Cal has been running the day-to-day of the organization since his father Bob McNair passed away in 2018. The results haven't been pretty.

While it's not fair to pin the incredibly disturbing off-field behavior of former franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson on McNair, we can safely lay the blame for numerous other bone-headed decisions at the feet of the 61-year-old Texans CEO, including giving former head coach Bill O'Brien free reign in what amounted to a dual-role as HC and GM.

Under McNair's watch, O'Brien made one of the worst trades in NFL history, sending franchise cornerstone DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for injury-riddled running back David Johnson and a second-round pick. It was just one of multiple egregious trades made by O'Brien who often spent numerous draft picks on veteran players, seemingly without care for Houston's future.

When McNair and the Texans finally did rid themselves of O'Brien, it kickstarted a coaching carousel on the sidelines, a power vacuum in the front office, and horrible play on the field. Houston has gone a combined 11-38-1 since 2020 and is set to have their fifth head coach in four years with DeMeco Ryans in 2023.

 

#1. Daniel Snyder, Washington Commanders

Daniel Snyder not only earns the top spot on this list of the NFL's worst current owners but there's a legitimate argument that he's one of the most awful sports franchise owners of all time. Thankfully for Washington fans, it appears as though his 23-year reign of terror at the helm of one of the NFL's most iconic teams is about to come to an end, as Snyder is reportedly close to selling the franchise, in a move that many speculate was a way for him to avoid being pushed out of the league altogether.

You name it and Snyder has done it, well, except if the "it" is winning. After buying the successful franchise from Jack Kent Cooke in 1999, Snyder proceeded to run the once-proud Washington club in the ground with a carousel of coaching changes, ill-fated free-agent signings, and curious draft picks that's led to just two playoff game wins since he purchased the team.

Snyder routinely made himself the target of fan hatred by coming up with ridiculous schemes that have included suing season-ticket holders, being the first NFL owner to charge an admission price to watch training camp practices, refusing to maintain one of the NFL's worst stadiums and playing surfaces, while literally, allowing fans to be doused by what was believed to be raw sewage. You can't make this stuff up.

While many of the billionaire's greed-driven schemes have rightfully drawn the ire of the Washington faithful, there's also been a more sinister side to his tenure at the helm of the organization.

Snyder fought for years to keep Washington's longtime nickname, which had been considered a cultural relic that was both offensive and hurtful to Native Americans. He has also been alleged to have created and participated in a toxic workplace culture within his organization, which has allegedly included sexual harassment of team cheerleaders and female employees who have worked for the franchise.

Numerous investigations into Snyder's alleged organizational financial and cultural misconduct led to an honest-to-goodness federal inquiry, as well as a $10 million fine from the NFL. The much-maligned Washington owner is reportedly actively searching for a buyer and accepting bids for the Commanders as of this writing. The only downside to the team's eventual sale is that the slimey Snyder will make billions in profit on his initial $800 million purchase of the franchise.

UPDATE: Snyder has reportedly finalized a deal to sell the Washington franchise to a group led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Quinshon Judkins

Following Quinshon Judkins Arrest, NFL Declines Comment
Travis Hunter

Earning Praise in Jaguars Camp for Work Ethic
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Lars Nootbaar

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jake Burger

Scratched on Sunday
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Back in Action on Sunday
Sean Manaea

Reinstated From Injured List
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Julius Chestnut

Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Carlos Correa

Returns to Twins Lineup
Connor Norby

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Kimani Vidal

Fighting for No. 3 Job
Cam Hart

Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Quentin Johnston

Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Tre Harris

Officially a Holdout
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Should Move Up on Sunday
Ross Chastain

is a Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Josh Berry

Should Be Avoided in Fantasy at Sonoma
Chris Buescher

is A Great DFS Option to Consider for Sonoma Lineups
Riley Herbst

a Deep Sleeper at Sonoma
Joey Logano

May be A Sneaky DFS Option Who Can Pay Off for Sonoma Lineups
Austin Cindric

Could Austin Cindric Work for DFS Lineups at Sonoma?
Carson Hocevar

Is Carson Hocevar Worth Rostering For Sonoma DFS Lineups?
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek A Sneaky DFS Play for Sonoma?
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Probably More Valuable for DFS If He Doesn't Flip the Stage
Alec Bohm

Unlikely to Play on Sunday
Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Brady House

Homers Twice on Saturday
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Alec Bohm

Makes Early Exit on Saturday
Brandon Woodruff

Records 10 Strikeouts
Byron Buxton

Continues to Shine, Hits for Cycle in Win
Garrett Crochet

Dazzles in Complete Game Shutout of Rays
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Max Fried

Exits Start With Blister
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Hunter Dobbins

to Miss Rest of Season With Torn ACL
Nolan Arenado

Held Out of Lineup on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Carlos Correa

Sitting on Saturday
Austin Riley

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Arenado

Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger
Jake Burger

Expects to Play on Saturday
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF