Washington Redskins

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 1933, co-owner George Preston Marshall changed the team's name to the Redskins as it moved to Fenway Park, likely to avoid confusion with the Boston Braves while retaining Native American imagery. The original logo featured a Native American head in profile with braids and trailing feathers, similar to the NFL Braves' design. A redesigned logo introduced in 1972 was proposed by Walter Wetzel, a former Blackfoot tribal chairman and past president of the National Congress of American Indians, modeled after the likeness on the Buffalo nickel. While some members of the Blackfoot tribe expressed support or indifference, others strongly opposed the name based on personal experiences. Team owners and management long claimed the name honored Native American achievements, citing that three high schools with Native American-majority student bodies used the name and a 2004 Annenberg poll suggesting most Native Americans were not offended.

In Their Own Story

The controversy intensified in July 2020 when investors worth $620 billion pressured sponsors like Nike, FedEx, and PepsiCo to demand a name change. On July 2, 2020, FedEx called for the change, and Nike removed Redskins apparel from its website. By July 3, Amazon, Target, and Walmart withdrew merchandise. On July 7, it was acknowledged that the team had no contact with Native American groups petitioning for a name change. Head coach Ron Rivera stated the team wanted to continue 'honoring and supporting Native Americans and our Military.' The review led to retiring the name and logo. On July 12, 2021, Team President Jason Wright announced the new name would have no connection to Native Americans, noting that research showed anything other than a clean break was a slippery slope. In January 2022, the team considered names like Armada, Presidents, Brigade, Red Hogs, Commanders, RedWolves, and Defenders before announcing Washington Commanders on February 2, 2022.

Reader's Guide

Fans faced new stadium rules as the team transitioned. While jerseys with the former name were still permitted, Native American-inspired headdresses or face paint became prohibited in the stadium. Activist Amanda Blackhorse criticized the name change as an empty gesture, noting no substantial effort to acknowledge or repair decades of insults or advocate for other teams to change their mascots. A 2024 Washington Post poll revealed most local fans dislike the new 'Commanders' name but do not favor returning to the old one. In August 2024, owner Josh Harris reiterated the team would not revert to the old name for 'obvious reasons.' Meanwhile, Senator Steve Daines threatened in 2024 to block RFK Stadium renovation bills unless the Commanders honored the old logo and the Wetzel family, though some Blackfeet Nation council members questioned why little money generated by the team was shared with the tribe.

Did You Know?

• The term 'redskin' is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as an extremely offensive word for a Native American.
• Walter Wetzel, who proposed the 1972 logo redesign, was a former Blackfoot tribal chairman and past president of the National Congress of American Indians.
• In July 2020, a group of investors worth $620 billion wrote letters to major sponsors urging pressure on the team to change its name.
• The team considered eight potential new names in January 2022, including 'Red Hogs' and 'RedWolves,' before selecting 'Commanders'.
• A 2004 Annenberg Public Policy Center poll found that most Native Americans were not offended by the name, though scholars criticized the polling methods used.