The Washington Commanders, previously known as the Washington Redskins, have addressed rumors about potentially reverting to their former name. The team, called the Redskins for 87 years until 2020, changed its name to the Washington Football Team temporarily before adopting the Commanders moniker in 2022.
Outkick reported that Marjorie Harris, wife of Commander’s owner Josh Harris, discussed the possibility of a name change while participating in a Day of Service in Washington, D.C. When asked about returning to the old name, she said, “As you would imagine, everybody has an opinion about the name. Some good, some bad, some in the middle. And I think that we have a lot of work to do, so that name issue is going to be on the side for now until we can get things going.”
Despite ongoing debates, Harris expressed her satisfaction with the current name and excitement about new quarterback Jayden Daniels, saying, “I had a whole day out in the community, and I kept referring to the team as the Commanders. And you know what? Sounds pretty good to me. So, for now, it’s the Commanders.
Controversy over the Washington team’s name has been present since at least 2016, with some progressive voices labeling the Redskins name as racist. This led to the eventual name change despite a Washington Post poll showing that nine out of 10 Native Americans did not find the name offensive. The Commanders name has persisted, despite reports of trademark denials and pressure from a Native American group.
Recently, Commanders coach Dan Quinn reignited the debate by wearing merchandise featuring the Commanders “W” logo with a Native American feather, reminiscent of the old Redskins logo. He later admitted it was a lapse in judgment, and the organization did not comment on the matter.
A Washington Post poll revealed mixed reactions to the Commanders name, with 57% of the team’s fans disliking or hating it, and only 32% liking or loving it. In the D.C. area, 49% of respondents disliked or hated the name, while 31% liked or loved it. Similarly, 53% of overall sports fans disliked or hated the name, while 31% liked or loved it.
