The Washington Commanders brand. What you like, what you don’t like, and suggestions to improve what we have.

[Commander PK]

I do hope the Super Bowl era unis become the home again. An alternate with the spear would be good, but generally I agree with you Boone.

 

[Spearfeather]

PainKiller's gonna love this one:

 

[Boone]

I can't be the only one who has wondered why, having given up 'Redskins' and all of that 'offensive' imagery, the new ownership group would start promoting the brand with new imagery of players holding spears.

I am not easily offended. But in this day and age, in an NFL where 75% of players are African American, it just seems like a bad look. I get that some marketing company has determined that 'no one knows what Commanders is supposed to signify' and came up with 'let's give it a Roman or Medieval connotation'... but there are other connotations of that imagery that could easily be misconstrued in the same way 'Redskins' was...

Just me? I cringe a little every time I see it.

 

[DieselPwr44]

I can't be the only one who has wondered why, having given up 'Redskins' and all of that 'offensive' imagery, the new ownership group would start promoting the brand with new imagery of players holding spears.

I am not easily offended. But in this day and age, in an NFL where 75% of players are African American, it just seems like a bad look. I get that some marketing company has determined that 'no one knows what Commanders is supposed to signify' and came up with 'let's give it a Roman or Medieval connotation'... but there are other connotations of that imagery that could easily be misconstrued in the same way 'Redskins' was...

Just me? I cringe a little every time I see it.

Well, when you have no identity but you want to just play "footsie" with your past, you're basically in hell identity-wise.

As my Grandpa used to say : either shit or get off the pot.

 

[Boone]

I am just surprised this wouldn't have come up when discussing re-branding 'Commanders'. I mean, if I'm Jayden Daniels, I'm like 'you want me to hold a WHAT?'

But what do I know. I'm just an old white guy.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Your reference is sooo late 60's/early 70's Boone. Kids today have no idea.

 

[HTTR]

I am just surprised this wouldn't have come up when discussing re-branding 'Commanders'. I mean, if I'm Jayden Daniels, I'm like 'you want me to hold a WHAT?'

But what do I know. I'm just an old white guy.

Boone you must’ve missed the old white guy club meeting. Our official position is we don’t do the whole offended by everything thing.
😁
That said, I have to agree with your point… the spear imagery seems no more or less offensive than the NA imagery. Same difference to me, although my opinion is neither one of them is meant to be offensive and they should be accepted for what they are stated to be and known to represent. Hopefully we are seeing a pendulum swing, because if we keep lowering the bar of whats deemed offensive, eventually the only acceptable nicknames left will be lollipops or unicorns.

 

[Conn]

Your reference is sooo late 60's/early 70's Boone. Kids today have no idea.

Yeah, I was gonna say something similar. I’m 36 and I grew up visiting a virulently racist grandfather as a kid, he lived until I was about 13. I remember driving through downtown Hartford, CT and hearing some vile stuff out of that man’s mouth. Including the slur you’re referencing, Boone but I never ever heard it again even growing up in kind of a backwoods area. I think it’s definitely a connection/slur from a different time that mostly hasn’t survived the years. Other things have taken its place, of course. Tough to kill those sorts of sentiments and I’ll stop before getting political.

But yeah, the negative connotation and slurs associated with the spear imagery is something that most people under 40 probably have never even heard. It’s of a different time. Could be wrong though, I can’t speak for entire generations

 

[Chris]

They can easily do Roman imagery by having the players stand in front of a dated wall covered in penis graffiti. 😉

 

[Boone]

I hear what all of you are saying. It is more of a 60's/70's slur - and I am of that era. I have a couple key points. First - I'm not offended by a spear. I wasn't offended by Redskins (because I don't think it had a racist connotation in the public square). I am just surprised they would even go anywhere near ANYTHING that could be viewed as 'objectionable' after what we've been through. Hell - there were people screaming when 'Wolves' was being bantied about as a prospective name because 'Wolves are part of Native American iconography'.

I get what the team is trying to do. They are trying to establish an 'identity' around a name that doesn't resonate with the fanbase. I think it's cool. They seem to be going for something like what Charlotte FC has ... Charlotte even calls BoA Stadium 'the Fortress'. The idea itself isn't bad. I'm just not sure marketing with players carrying spears is really the smartest way to go about it.

Then again, I seem to be the only one who was a little taken aback by it so....

 

[Commander PK]

For me, a spear existed long before Native Americans. They don’t have a monopoly on them. Any warrior from any other culture in the world used them at one time or another. If it helps us with giving Commanders a visual identity (it does) I say full steam ahead. We’ve said enough penance as a fan base.

 

[AngryChuckT]

For me, a spear existed long before Native Americans. They don’t have a monopoly on them. Any warrior from any other culture in the world used them at one time or another. If it helps us with giving Commanders a visual identity (it does) I say full steam ahead. We’ve said enough penance as a fan base.

Agree. Spear is something from the past that crosses cultures. I prefer leaning into the Roman theme instead of the modern military imagery. A Roman stylized spear shouldn't be controversial - of course it is 2025 and water being wet is controversial to someone.

 

[Letthepointssoar]

Finally received mine today. While I'm still sad we didn't go full on board with a new rebrand, I'm LOVING the ability to have new jerseys without the C word anywhere on them.

I'm really curious on what jersey sales have been for this round and if it's as overwhelming as I'd hope it is to send a message to the ownership group.

 

[Burgundy Sweatshirt]

Finally received mine today. While I'm still sad we didn't go full on board with a new rebrand, I'm LOVING the ability to have new jerseys without the C word anywhere on them.

I'm really curious on what jersey sales have been for this round and if it's as overwhelming as I'd hope it is to send a message to the ownership group. View attachment 13086

I purchased several. Love them.

 

[Commander PK]

 

[SkinsFTW]

So now only Season Ticket holders are allowed to be "racist" Redskins fans?

Are they actually the same as the old Redskins jerseys or just similar? I still have one or two that actually says Redskins on them. Do they have that too?

 

[Halcyon Times]

Play in polka dot pajamas
Play in a parking lot
Play as the pussified turd munchers

Just win

 

[Boone]

Pussified turd munchers has a prior copyright. Not available. Sorry.

 

[Spearfeather]

I still have one or two that actually says Redskins on them. Do they have that too?

These " Super Bowl Era " jerseys dont have the Redskins wordmark on them, and neither did our jersey's in the '80's and '90's.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I have to go back and look, I don't think my ST21 jersey or Jacoby jersey has the word Redskin anywhere on it. I think my fake "pot roast" jersey does.

Man, one of my greatest regrets is not holding on to my ST36 jersey when I bought the ST21.