Commanders owner addresses whether team will change its name
Oct 15, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A Washington Commanders helmet on the bench against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Fans may not be happy with the Washington Commanders’ new nickname, but don’t expect a name change any time soon.
The Washington Post on Wednesday published the results of a poll they conducted regarding the Commanders’ name. According to the Post, 54 percent of respondents say they either dislike or hate the Commanders’ nickname.
Only 16 percent of Commanders fans think the team should keep the name, while most say they would like the team to change to a different name. Again. https://t.co/noNB3hlIk4
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 29, 2024
Despite the findings of the poll — and the apparent widespread dislike of the team’s nickname — Washington’s new owners do not have plans to change the name any time soon.
Marjorie Harris, the wife of majority owner Josh Harris, told the media Wednesday that the nickname isn’t going anywhere for now.
“That name issue is going to be on the side for now until we can get things going,” Harris said. “I had a whole day out in the community and I kept referring to the team as the Commanders. And you know what? It sounds pretty good to me… for now, it’s the Commanders.”
Marjorie Harris on the team name: “I had a whole day out in the community and I kept referring to the team as the Commanders… it sounds pretty good to me… for now, it's the Commanders"pic.twitter.com/PtY8pUtpvT
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 29, 2024
Team president Jason Wright similarly said a name change was something the team isn’t keen on making in the near future.
#Commanders president Jason Wright when asked about the team’s name
“It’s not something we’re looking at right now”
Wright continues to prioritize a championship winning roster, ensuring a great guess experience and the community.
(:@Scott7news) pic.twitter.com/Tbb8p5nNmX
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) May 29, 2024
The Washington football franchise was known as the Redskins going back to 1933 when they began in Boston. They won three Super Bowls with that nickname and were highly successful from the ’70s through the early ’90s. That’s when so many of their fans developed a love for the team.
So many of the team’s fans love the Redskins name so much that any name change would have bothered them, so that’s part of the obstacle the team is fighting. But some fans even just prefer the “Washington Football Team” name the team held from 2020-2021 more than the Commanders nickname they have had since 2022.
Having an ownership switch has opened the door for the team to change nicknames, but that is not the current focus for the team’s new owners.