Josh Harris Speaks... Commanders is permanent name.

[burgold]

I think the message of the fan base was pretty loud. We started wtih emptyish stadiums. Even at the Chicago game, there was a huge number of Bear fans in the seat. By the end of the season, the fanbase not only came back to reclaim Northwest Stadium (I know it's the name of a bank, but this name makes no sense at all for Washington D.C.) but they took over Tampa Bay. Add to that the sales numbers for the jerseys and the drag of the name was not strong enough to compel the risk and cost of a complete rebranding.

Washington fans had bought into this team. They were showing up. They were buying merchandice. They were paying scalper's prices for tickets and selling out the stadium. The voice of the fan didn't proclaim that the name was all that mattered and they were holding their water until they got it fixed. The fans were saying, Hail Yeah and Raise Hail.

In addition, the name began to carry weight inside the building. People wanted that "Commander tag." They liked the new culture. And yeah, there were still those voices begging for the name to be changed or for it to revert, but the loudest voices were the ones filling up the bandwagon. We talked a lot about how many new fans we were getting and how much excitement was surrounding this team. So, everything pointed towards stay the course.

 

[mistertim]

Irrelevant, other than being a constant reminder on literally every piece of marketing collateral in use by the team?

His handpicked name and branding appearing on every single piece of team gear, at the top of every press release, all over the stadium, in the media, etc.

That sure doesn't feel irrelevant.

Just because you allow Dan Snyder to live rent free in your head doesn't mean everyone does.

 

[burgold]

As to the Snyder stink, it'll sink into history. How often do we talk about George Preston Marshall's racism being linked forever to the Redskins even though we know that part of the reason DC developed such a large number of Cowboys fans was because Marshall was so adament against integrating his team? Marshall was awful, but he's not a part of almost any sports conversation. Instead, we think of Slinging Sammy Baugh, Sonny, and Charlie Taylor. Owners stamps on their team may last, but the owners themselves are often put in the margins and footnotes. Going more modern, how often do we talk about Gibbs and Beathard without ever mentioning JKC?

 

[Captain James]

I'm quite surprised by how visceral/personal this seems to be for some fans. "Commanders" has grown on me enough to where I don't necessarily love it or hate it. It is what it is. I guess I'm just more attached to the "Washington" piece.

Maybe it's a bigger deal to those who were lucid/attentive during the "glory" years (I was born in '85). Yes, I was upset when we changed our name to begin with (felt it was a superficial and unnecessary move), but I quickly got used to WFT and now Commanders...

 

[formerly4skins]

Just because you allow Dan Snyder to live rent free in your head doesn't mean everyone does.

Hey, you do you if the whack-ass brand developed by our sexual-miscreant, fraudster of a former owner gets you going. That's a personal choice for everyone to make. Harris likes it, so maybe you're in good company.

Personally, I just think the brand is trash and the decision to keep it was bad and short-sighted.

And, Com**nders football is but a small part of life...please miss me with the tired "so and so lives in your head rent free" BS. This is a place for talking about the team, nobody is laying their head on a pillow at night thinking of Dan 😂 .

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

Let's say they changed the name to something new for the 2026 season.

That would have been four - four! - team names/rebrands in a 8-year span. Exhausting.

 

[mistertim]

"Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan"

"Hey, stop claiming I think about Dan so much!"

 

[burgold]

Hey, you do you if the whack-ass brand developed by our sexual-miscreant, fraudster of a former owner gets you going. .

Just saying, Washington was rebranded to Redskins by George Preston Marshall. He was pretty shit-stained too.

I love the name Redskins and don't associate it with anything racist or harmful. I don't think it should have been changed, but I also don't think of it as George Preston Marshall's hand chosen name.

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

I'm quite surprised by how visceral/personal this seems to be for some fans. "Commanders" has grown on me enough to where I don't necessarily love it or hate it. It is what it is. I guess I'm just more attached to the "Washington" piece.

Maybe it's a bigger deal to those who were lucid/attentive during the "glory" years (I was born in '85). Yes, I was upset when we changed our name to begin with (felt it was a superficial and unnecessary move), but I quickly got used to WFT and now Commanders...

I don't mind the name either. It could be worse.

And I'll die on the hill that the current "W" actually isn't that bad. Looks good on sweatshirts, tees and hats, and I actually think our home uniforms with the gold pants are a fantastic look that just pops on a sunny fall Sunday afternoon.

Now let's get back to winning!

 

[formerly4skins]

"Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan Dan"

"Hey, stop claiming I think about Dan so much!"

On a Washington Football forum?

On the current topics discussion board?

In a thread devoted to the name change?

Discussing the name handpicked by Dan?

I mean, yeah....I'm sure there's a point you're trying to make though 🙄

 

[Riggo44]

Irrelevant, other than being a constant reminder on literally every piece of marketing collateral in use by the team?

His handpicked name and branding appearing on every single piece of team gear, at the top of every press release, all over the stadium, in the media, etc.

That sure doesn't feel irrelevant.

It does to me. It does to a lot of people. The only people who are obsessively holding on to Snyder's memory are the people complaining about the name.

 

[Captain James]

I don't mind the name either. It could be worse.

And I'll die on the hill that the current "W" actually isn't that bad. Looks good on sweatshirts, tees and hats, and I actually think our home uniforms with the gold pants are a fantastic look that just pops on a sunny fall Sunday afternoon.

Now let's get back to winning!

Don't tell anyone, but I thought our white unis looked slick during our playoff run. I know a lot of fans feel they aren't great (especially the font/grading), but something about playoff action made us look dope.

EDIT: I think our black unis are the worst of the bunch...

 

[burgold]

Don't tell anyone, but I thought our white unis looked slick during our playoff run. I know a lot of fans feel they aren't great (especially the font/grading), but something about playoff action made us look dope.

EDIT: I think our black unis are the worst of the bunch...

My feelings towards the black unis softened after the Hail Mary game, but yeah, I want us in B&G. Home whites with burgundy bottoms is fine, too. White tops and going Commando is not a good choice.

 

[formerly4skins]

It does to me. It does to a lot of people. The only people who are obsessively holding on to Snyder's memory are the people complaining about the name.

I'm happy that it's irrelevant to you, seriously.

But, like I pointed out "irrelevance" doesn't feel like it would appear on literally every single piece of marketing collateral and gear the team has.

 

[Riggo44]

Don't tell anyone, but I thought our white unis looked slick during our playoff run. I know a lot of fans feel they aren't great (especially the font/grading), but something about playoff action made us look dope.

EDIT: I think our black unis are the worst of the bunch...

I feel the compete opposite about the whites and the blacks (jerseys, not people). Therefore you're wrong. And stupid. And I got a black JD5 jersey for Christmas, so you've insulted me personally as well!😂

However, the playoff run softened my disdain for the Cardinals jerseys we wear. I'd love to see them replace the numbers with the burgundy-lined gold numbers like the ones on the Battle Blacks, and replace the black stripe on the sleeve with a gold stripe. Fixed. Those would look 1000X better.

 

[iheartskins]

I think we'll all care about all of this much less if the team continues winning.

Few core things on why the name change matters (and I'm sure there are others):

- changing the name cuts to the core (for some) of the identity of the thing that many of have spent a lifetime rooting for [I totally get this by the way]
- having an uber-generic name a la Guardians instead of a pretty iconic name that had been around since nearly the inception of the team is disappointing at best and perhaps almost demoralizing at worst [hard to get more generic than "Commander" and I totally get that]
- the Snyder thing [clearly important to some but clearly very unimportant to others - ok fine]
- the way in which it was handled - i.e., the bait and switch from (some) fans being excited for a new permanent, less generic name [agree this was handled very poorly]

We're all a little stuck on this because: (a) we're on a website with "obsession" in the name about a team that we all care deeply about; (b) it's the offseason; (c) we didn't make it to the Super Bowl; and (d) we're coming of years and years of pretty disappointing performance giving us all plenty to grumble about.

I'm sure we'll always find something to complain about in respect of the name but I think this all goes away with time: think of how many professional sports teams have completely forgettable nicknames - Rangers(!), Angels, Pirates - these are all objectively super generic but time and ongoing association has diminished our sense of that IMO. And also, more continued success. If the team keeps performing, the last thing we'll be worried about is the name.

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

Don't tell anyone, but I thought our white unis looked slick during our playoff run. I know a lot of fans feel they aren't great (especially the font/grading), but something about playoff action made us look dope.

EDIT: I think our black unis are the worst of the bunch...

Yeah, I hate the black ones as well. Just awful. Hopefully they'll get replaced with a non-black alternate option at some point.

As for the road whites, if you swap out all of the black trim for yellow trim, I think they look 100% better. I was at the game in Philly 2 weeks ago, and those matte burgundy helmets? Man, they really pop in person. Stick with those!

 

[Riggo44]

I'm happy that it's irrelevant to you, seriously.

But, like I pointed out "irrelevance" doesn't feel like it would appear on literally every single piece of marketing collateral and gear the team has.

Like I said--no one holds onto Snyder's memory more than the anti-name crowd.

 

[burgold]

I think we'll all care about all of this much less if the team continues winning.

Few core things on why the name change matters (and I'm sure there are others):

- changing the name cuts to the core (for some) of the identity of the thing that many of have spent a lifetime rooting for [I totally get this by the way]
- having an uber-generic name a la Guardians instead of a pretty iconic name that had been around since nearly the inception of the team is disappointing at best and perhaps almost demoralizing at worst [hard to get more generic than "Commander" and I totally get that]
- the Snyder thing [clearly important to some but clearly very unimportant to others - ok fine]
- the way in which it was handled - i.e., the bait and switch from (some) fans being excited for a new permanent, less generic name [agree this was handled very poorly]

We're all a little stuck on this because: (a) we're on a website with "obsession" in the name about a team that we all care deeply about; (b) it's the offseason; (c) we didn't make it to the Super Bowl; and (d) we're coming of years and years of pretty disappointing performance giving us all plenty to grumble about.

I'm sure we'll always find something to complain about in respect of the name but I think this all goes away with time: think of how many professional sports teams have completely forgettable nicknames - Rangers(!), Angels, Pirates - these are all objectively super generic but time and ongoing association has diminished our sense of that IMO. And also, more continued success. If the team keeps performing, the last thing we'll be worried about is the name.

Yep. And before all of us were obsessed most of us were extreme

 

[Commander PK]

As to the Snyder stink, it'll sink into history. How often do we talk about George Preston Marshall's racism being linked forever to the Redskins even though we know that part of the reason DC developed such a large number of Cowboys fans was because Marshall was so adament against integrating his team? Marshall was awful, but he's not a part of almost any sports conversation. Instead, we think of Slinging Sammy Baugh, Sonny, and Charlie Taylor. Owners stamps on their team may last, but the owners themselves are often put in the margins and footnotes. Going more modern, how often do we talk about Gibbs and Beathard without ever mentioning JKC?

This is an excellent point. Marshall slipped into oblivion and so will Snyder. Nobody is going to remember or care that he picked this name in time. His tenure will just be a sad footnote in the team’s history just like the majority of the years between Sammy Baugh and Vince Lombardi. Just like Marshall refusing to integrate. What people remember from the Redskins era was Gibbs, Allen, Cooke, and all those successful players. Their legacy is cemented.

Future generations will think about Jayden, Terry, Quinn, Peters, and others yet to come.

Time is going to make all this ok.