After two years of speculation and in the blank NFL team name universe, the Washington Football Team unveiled its new name and look on Wednesday as the Washington Commanders.
The new team name was announced early via a hype video created by the team that features them showing off their new logo and uniforms.
“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,” Washington co-owner and co-CEO Daniel Snyder said. “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.”
Washington dropped its previous name in July 2020 following years of complaints from fans over the racist connotation it had toward Native Americans. They removed the previous logo and stripes on the helmet and replaced it with gold numbers on the burgundy helmet. The rest of their uniforms remained the same minus “Washington” being put on the jerseys instead of the nickname.
Like any team uniform or logo reveal, it takes time for fans to warm up to the new look. But Washington and football fans weren’t shy about letting the team know how they felt about it off the bat:
It took them two whole seasons to land on “Commanders.” That rules. You could’ve gotten to the same place in three minutes on Madden create-a-team
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 2, 2022
If in fact the new name is Commanders, there is nothing NOTHING about this process that gave the fans any hope of a new direction for the franchise. And beyond the actual name, that’s the biggest takeaway #WashingtonFootball
— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) February 2, 2022
– There was no fan input considered.
– It has 0 ties to history of team.
– It looks like an expansion brand.
– They completely botched the “misdirection”.
They took 18 months & saved the date like it was a wedding just to reveal this? Plastering “1932” on it doesn’t make it work.— Washington Realm (@WashingtonRealm) February 2, 2022
As a loyal Washington Commanders fan since 2022, this team has destroyed my will to live. My children started crying when they saw the new logo and uniforms. My 60 inch television is SHATTERED and my hopes are crushed. I will be taking my fandom to a team that has a REAL name.
— alex (@highlghtheaven) February 2, 2022
I can’t wait to hear “The Commanders have taking a commanding lead over…”
— Pierre Garçon (@PierreGarcon) February 2, 2022
Washington Commanders is like when the movie can’t get the rights to use an actual team so they throw something quick out there and hope it just doesn’t cause too much confusion
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) February 2, 2022
Can we go back to Football Team instead?
— Jahcobo (@ItsToySoldierYT) February 2, 2022
LMFAOOOOO THIS IS EMBARRASSING AS HELL 😭😭😭😭
— garrett (@KennyGainweIl) February 2, 2022
*almost impossibly dorky voice* The Washington Commanders
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) February 2, 2022
The Washington Commanders sounds like one of those generic names the relocation teams get in Madden.
— step-father time (@Father_T) January 27, 2022
The Washington Commanders sounds like a made-up football team in a movie starring The Rock
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) February 2, 2022
— Aron Yohannes
