CHEVY CHASE, Md. — Sylvia Harris is mom to Commanders owner Josh Harris. But the team’s number one fan goes by a different name for the rest of us. Just like the Burgundy and Gold squad we can’t wait to watch every week, Mama Commander has been on quite the journey.
“Of course, none of this would have been possible at all without my mom, Sylvia Harris," Josh Harris proclaimed back in July 2023 when we were meeting the new leader of the Commanders.
Josh Harris introduced his mom, and she took it from there.
“I may be your mom,” said Sylvia Harris, as she stood to address the crowd. “But to everyone else, please call me, Mama Commander.”
Of the nickname that has since stuck, Sylvia Harris said she didn't give it much thought.
“It was totally spontaneous,” Mama Commander said.
Sylvia Harris spent a career as an educator, so she has no problem commanding a room, which she has done since she stole the show -- and our hearts -- on day one. It was that first introduction that really left an impression on the fans.
“I went to the Giant, and some young man said, I know who you are, I saw your picture," Sylvia Harris said. "What are you doing in the Giant? Josh’s mother couldn’t be buying food in the Giant!”
They took a selfie, which went viral on TikTok. And Mama Commander secured her place as Washington’s number one fan all while wearing a custom game day jersey or jacket that bears her new name.
Her son bought the team he grew up idolizing through the years. His journey from the seats to the C-suite was years in the making.
Josh Harris and his brother Gabe grew up going to games in the old RFK stadium. From an early age, Sylvia said Josh displayed a dogged level of energy, focus and determination.
“He was born with it, it was just always like this," Sylvia Harris said. "He never slept more than four hours. He climbed a tree and he was not quite three, and we hear through the open window on the second floor, 'Mom, Dad… Hi… Good morning.'"
In junior high, Josh Harris rode the bus all around town trying to get to know people from different backgrounds, people outside his bubble, forging connections that would serve him well in life.
“He went wherever the bus took him, he knew all the bus drivers in D.C.,” Harris said. “They knew him because later, he took us on rides of the buses of people he knew.”
As a people person and entrepreneur in training, Sylvia Hsrris said Josh Harris built his business acumen setting up lemonade stands outside the National Zoo.
“100 degrees, it didn’t matter. He was out there early in the morning, worked all day," Mama Commander said.
Now, as managing owner of the Commanders, giving back to the community he loves is nearly as important as winning on the field.
“Doing good in the community has always been a big part of Josh’s life,” Sylvia Harris said. “This team, particularly from what I know, is right out there trying to help as many people as possible”
Sunday’s NFL Crucial Catch game was no exception. It was a special one, too, as Mama Commander walked on the field flanked by her two sons - Josh and Gabe Harris — as they lift up cancer survivors.
It was personal, because on this day, two sons were also lifting up their mom, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2023 -- a big shock to the family.
“Because of COVID, I really was neglectful of getting mammograms for a couple of years,” Sylvia Harris said. “I saw something odd on my skin and went to my doctor and he said that could be cancer.”
She’s still going through chemo, but says doctors told her she’s cancer free. And, she has a message for other women to prioritize their health and well-being.
“You have to be in charge of your own life and your body because, you skip a few months, and you could be getting a lumpectomy," Sylvia Harris said. "It’s a hard road. It really is. I can’t say there’s nothing to it. But I think women have it in them to be strong enough to face what’s coming and live one day at a time.”
Mama Commander said she believes deeply in the mission of taking your health in your own hands. She’s excited about the mission of the team to create a place where people all across the DMV can come together, to enjoy a game, and each other; using sports to connect us all.
When she’s not watching one of her son's many sports teams (he also owns the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL's New Jersey Devils) Sylvia Harris can often be found cultivating her love of art. She’s an accomplished artist, but modest about her gifts. Some of her paintings have earned awards and a place in the homes of others.
And for 40 years, she has collected glass art. Sylvia Harris said it’s a lot like life: fragile and unpredictable, so you need to protect it, clean it, take care of it, appreciate it and see the beauty of it.
