Washington, D.C., and the Washington Commanders are reportedly close to finalizing a deal to return the NFL franchise to its historic home at the RFK Stadium site.
The agreement would bring the team back to the city it left in 1996 and make use of the 174-acre RFK campus, which Congress transferred to the District through legislation signed by President Joe Biden in January.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has long championed redeveloping the waterfront site in Northeast D.C., has been negotiating with the Commanders for months. The talks gained momentum after the passage of the RFK Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which allows the city to sign a 99-year lease and begin planning the site’s future, including demolition of the current stadium.
NBC4’s Mark Segraves was the first to report the news of the potential deal.
According to documents obtained by the station, the Commanders would invest $2.5 billion in the project, while the District would contribute up to $850 million toward “eligible capital costs associated with the stadium and infrastructure.”
That includes the construction of parking structures to support the broader mixed-use development.
D.C.’s public contribution would be spread out in installments. The first $500 million would be spent between 2026 and 2030. The remaining $350 million would be paid in 2032 using tax revenues generated by the new development.
The projected timeline would see the new stadium and parking completed by fall 2030, which aligns with the expectations of Commanders owner Josh Harris.
“Josh Harris is an incredible blessing for this franchise,” said social media user Peter Mandzych. “They will eventually win a Super Bowl and move into an iconic new stadium on the site of the old RFK Stadium during his tenure. An incredible turnaround to glory for this historic proud franchise and its fanbase.”
The team plays at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, and has a lease in place until 2027, with an option to extend until a new stadium is completed.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has also pushed for a new stadium to be built adjacent to the current one, signaling a potential competition between jurisdictions.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reportedly taken an active role in the discussions, and the Commanders are expected to use the league’s stadium-loan program to help finance the deal. The NFL has not commented publicly on the negotiations.
While the project would be funded through the capital budget — separate from the city’s operating budget used for government agencies and services — the proposal comes at a time of financial uncertainty in the District. A $1 billion federal cut imposed by Congress has left city officials scrambling to plug a $410 million shortfall before the end of the fiscal year in September.
Bowser said this week that her 2026 budget is complete but is being held pending resolution of the current budget gap.
The mayor has already ordered a freeze on government hiring and instructed agencies to prepare for possible furloughs and facility closures. Her administration said the revised budget and the 2026 spending plan will be presented once the House returns from recess.
Despite the financial squeeze, Bowser remains committed to the RFK redevelopment. She envisions the stadium as part of a larger mixed-use project, including retail, housing, a sportsplex for residents, and open green space.
Any deal using public funds will require approval from the D.C. Council, which remains skeptical. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said he is not opposed to a new stadium but has reiterated his opposition to using taxpayer money to fund it.
“We should not be putting public dollars into stadiums,” Mendelson told reporters.