Washington Commanders' Name Change Marks 4-Year Anniversary

The team's rebrand from Redskins to Commanders has been met with little fanfare from fans.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 6:31am

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Four years ago, on February 2, 2022, the Washington NFL franchise officially changed its name from the Redskins to the Commanders. The announcement, made on NBC's Today Show, was led by then-team president Jason Wright and former quarterback Doug Williams. However, the new name has failed to resonate with many fans, who had expressed more interest in alternatives like "Warriors" or "Redwolves" prior to the decision.

Why it matters

The Commanders' name change was a controversial and high-profile move, as the Redskins had been the team's name since 1933. The decision to rebrand was driven by growing pressure to move away from a name and imagery that was seen as insensitive and offensive towards Native Americans. However, the chosen replacement name of "Commanders" has not been widely embraced by the team's fanbase.

The details

When the name change was announced, team president Jason Wright claimed the name "Commanders" broadly resonated with fans. However, many fans had expressed more interest in alternative names like "Warriors" or "Redwolves" prior to the decision. Wright also drew criticism for eliminating the team's historic throwback uniforms and introducing new alternate uniforms that had little connection to the Redskins' history.

  • The Washington NFL franchise officially changed its name from the Redskins to the Commanders on February 2, 2022.

The players

Jason Wright

The former team president who oversaw the Commanders' name change and rebranding efforts.

Doug Williams

A former Redskins quarterback who was present for the announcement of the Commanders' new name.

Daniel Snyder

The owner of the Washington Commanders franchise.

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What they’re saying

“We are the Commanders,”

— Doug Williams, Former Redskins quarterback (NBC's Today Show)

“Commanders was 'something that broadly resonated with our fans.”

— Jason Wright, Former Commanders team president (Commanders Wire)

What’s next

The Commanders will continue to face scrutiny and skepticism from fans as they work to build support and enthusiasm for the new brand.

The takeaway

The Washington Commanders' name change from the Redskins has been met with little fanfare, as the new name has failed to resonate with the team's fanbase. This highlights the challenges organizations can face when attempting to rebrand in the face of public pressure, especially when the new name does not align with fan preferences or the team's historical identity.