After two seasons without an official name, the Washington Football Team announced on February 2 that the team will be rebranded for the upcoming 2022 season as the Washington Commanders. Along with the new name, the Commanders also released images of the team’s redesigned logo.
Washington is only the fourth team in NFL history to change mascots without moving to a new city.
“As an organization, we are excited to rally and rise together as one under our new identity while paying homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation’s capital,” co-owner and co-CEO Daniel Snyder said in a statement per the NFL website.
“As we kick-off our 90th season, it is important for our organization and fans to pay tribute to our past traditions, history, legacy, and the greats that came before us. We continue to honor and represent the Burgundy & Gold while forging a pathway to a new era in Washington. Today may mark the first day for the Washington Commanders, but we are and always will be Washington.”
Controversy previously arose over the Washington Football Team’s former name, the Washington Redskins, adopted when the Boston Braves became the Redskins in 1933. The team moved to Washington D.C. in 1937. Social justice advocates have expressed opposition over the years to the team’s branding, such as its name and imagery, as well as the chant popularized by its fans, which was amended in 1972 to remove “Scalp ‘em” from the official fight song lyrics.
The first petition brought to the U.S. Government to force a name change was filed in 1992 but languished for 17 years before being denied. As recently as 2013, team owner Daniel Snyder refused to consider a name change for the franchise.
“We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps,” Snyder said at the time.
Then, in May 2020, nationwide protests and civil demonstrations took place following the murder of George Floyd. The national focus on topics of race put additional pressure on the team to redress the name. Investors, sponsors, and companies that produce apparel pressured Snyder and the Washington Football Team, directly leading to the decision in July 2020 to drop the use of the Redskins name and the use of Native American imagery.
The new name, while being packaged with a revised logo, will maintain the maroon and gold color scheme that the team is famous for. When Washington dropped the Redskins name, they were known simply as the Washington Football Team and used a stylized letter ‘W’ rather than a name or image for logos and marketing efforts.
The new design continues the use of the ‘W’ but modifies it slightly. Two color patterns will be used with the primary logo, consisting of a maroon ‘W’ with gold lining extending through the letter, unlike the previous outline pattern. The alternate logo is identical but reverses the colors.
A separate logo features the words ‘Washington Commanders,’ along with ‘est. 1932.’ Around the margins of the newly-envisioned circular logo are the years for which the team was World Champions.
One legacy. One unified future.
We are the Washington Commanders #TakeCommand pic.twitter.com/Eav9NOV5Mm
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 2, 2022
