Rest in Peace Rick Snider
[Editor’s note: this column is The Hog Sty’s tribute to our friend, long-time Washington sports writer Rick Snider, who passed away today.]
August 27, 2026
by Alex Zeese
We learned some awful news today that long-time Redskins beat reporter Rick Snider passed away. Rick had covered the DC sports since 1978 and the Redskins for over 40 years.
While the show has been lucky enough to talk to many writers and former players over the years, Rick became a friend. He was an old-school type of writer; he had 1,000 stories about the team. While our friendship was mostly online, through the podcast, private messages, we did get to meet a few times at training camp and in person.
Every time we had Rick on the show, there was at least 30 to 60 minutes of non-recorded content. Because the man just loved to tell stories, and at the same time, was an old-school journalist, he knew that some of his best stories were never meant for print, not that they were nefarious, many of them just too normal, day-to-day life for a guy with one of the most unique jobs in Washington D. C. Many were about the old days covering training camp up in Carlisle, about one-on-one moments with players, with Jack Kent Cooke.
I messaged his partner on his Seasons of Discontent show, Matt Cones, as soon as we learned the news to pass on our condolences to him and Rick’s family. When Rick and Matt needed a place for the Seasons of Discontent podcast, we were happy to help them get it set up on the Hog Sty’s site for as long as they needed and wanted. Rick had always been great with us, and you want to return kindness with kindness.
Rick loved D.C., and he was a tour guide and historian. We talked about local history often; he had a wealth of true local knowledge, that kind of historic knowledge that sadly can get lost in a generation if you’re not paying attention.
A friend of my wife’s once came to me, having learned that her grandfather had played pro football in the 30’s, but it was for a defunct non-NFL team back in the day. Rick was the 1st person I went to – I knew if anyone was able to it would be him. Within a day, he helped guide me to another football history buff and even a team photo with her grandfather in it.
One more story: we were talking to early on with Rick Snider about his long tenure covering the team, and he was a few years short of the record for the longest period of time for any beat writer. I suggested that maybe the Skins should name the next stadium’s press box after him, similar to what the Nationals did with Shirley Povich. Rick was humble, didn’t think he was in that rarified air, but he also didn’t say no to the idea.
…Just food for thought there Josh Harris…
Rick, you will be missed. Washington D.C. lost one of its best storytellers.