Washington Football Team changes its name to the Washington Commanders
Say goodbye to the Washington Football Team and hello to the Washington Commanders.
The Washington Football Team on Wednesday officially revealed its team name has been changed to the Washington Commanders. The team's new name and logo were unveiled on the Today show and in an announcement video shared via social media.
Team president Jason Wright told Today the new name has "the weight and meaning befitting a 90-year-old franchise" and is "something that broadly resonated with our fans." Plus, Wright added, it's "something that, importantly, we can own and grow for the next 90 years." Co-CEO Dan Snyder said the new name pays "homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation's capital."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Washington Commanders were formerly known as the Redskins, but the team announced in 2020 it would rebrand due to criticism that the name was a slur against Native Americans. Since then, the team was simply known as the Washington Football Team, and it said Wednesday the new name was picked after an 18-month "collaborative effort with our fans, alumni, players and local DMV community." Among the names in consideration included the Red Wolves, but Wright previously said that "trademarks held by other teams would limit our ability to make the name our own."
A new logo was also unveiled Wednesday, and the team said the "symbol carries forward an element of the Washington Football Team chapter in the franchise's history and acknowledges the team's deep Washington roots."
On the Today show, Craig Melvin, noting that the team's previous name was "widely viewed as racist," asked Wright whether the NFL has a race problem, especially in light of former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores' bombshell lawsuit against the NFL over alleged discriminatory hiring practices. "When ownership is fully committed to diversity," Wright said, "when they're really all in, change can happen very rapidly."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Sudan, tackling homelessness and fake news
Podcast What is happening in Sudan? Could London really end rough sleeping? And why has Joe Lycett being making up stories?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Taylor Swift's surprise double album: an event of 'world-shaking proportions'
Why Everyone's Talking About Fans are 'reeling' after The Tortured Poets Department is followed by The Anthology – 15 additional tracks
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published