Washington Commanders: WFT Unveils New Team Name

LANDOVER, MD — Washington Football Team officials revealed Wednesday morning that the team would be renamed the Washington Commanders.

Washington Football Team President Jason Wright, former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams and current WFT defensive tackle Jonathan Allen made the announcement on the “Today” show, during a ceremony at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

"This is just the beginning," Wright said. "We want our fans to shape and mold this brand going forward."

The traditional burgundy-and-gold color scheme will remain at the center of the team’s new identity, the team said. The home uniform will also retain the burgundy and gold colors, a specific reference to uniforms of the past.

The new website for the Washington Commanders went live as soon as the announcement was made at FedEx Field.

“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,” team co-owner and co-CEO Dan Snyder said in a statement Wednesday.

"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," Snyder said.

Commander is a military term associated most closely as a naval officer rank. The name also can be used as a generic term, as in commanding officer or as commander-in-chief for the president.

"I like the name Commanders, it just has a ring to it. It has a sense of strength to it," legendary Washington quarterback Joe Theismann said Wednesday morning during the ceremony at FedEx Field.

"The name commanders is going to mean something special to everyone in this community," Allen said at the ceremony.

Some fans had been lining up outside the team store since the early hours of Wednesday morning. Sharriff McGee was outside the store at 6 a.m. with her 12-year-old son Bryce. They brought lawn chairs and plenty of blankets.

"I'm only doing this because I love my son," Sharriff McGee said.

"I forced her to come," Bryce said.

Bryce told Patch that he didn't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment. They were second in line to enter the team's store after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Chris Mercado, another fan, was first in line. He had been at the team's store at FedEx Field since 3 a.m. Wednesday.

A pair of self-proclaimed super fans were on site to rally shoppers outside of the store on Wednesday morning. "Road Warrior,” and “Rev T: The People’s Hype Man” weren’t there to celebrate the new name, but to embrace the community of football fans.

"At the end of the day, it’s not about the name,” Road Warrior said. “It’s about the people.”

Rev T embraced the new name with open arms, and expressed optimism about the team’s 2022 season. “We’re going to take command of the NFL,” Rev T said. “Because we believe.”

A Patch survey asked readers to choose their favorite name from the list of finalists. Clinching the most votes was Red Hogs (37.4 percent), followed by Washington Football Team (24.8 percent). Commanders came in third with 18.1 percent.

Related:

• How We Got Here: Washington Football Team Name Change
• Top Choices For Washington Football Team Name Found In Survey

Wednesday's announcement is the culmination of a rebranding process that began in summer 2020. After the murder of George Floyd, Washington's NFL franchise saw resistance from corporate sponsors about its former name, the Washington Redskins.

FedEx, one of the franchise's main sponsors, issued a public statement in July 2020 after the company asked the team to change its name. Nike removed the team's merchandise from its online shop.

The team's mascot had been a controversial topic for decades. Many Native American activists expressed concerns about the name, stating that it was a racial slur and perpetuated negative stereotypes.

Before the 2020 NFL season, the team adopted the Washington Football Team as a placeholder name. Now, 18 months later, the franchise says it is ready to embark on a new era with a new name, mascot and logo.

See more: Photos: Washington Commanders Sport New Team Name, Uniforms, Logo