In July 2020, the National Football League (NFL) franchise historically known as the Washington Redskins officially announced it would temporarily operate as the Washington Football Team, dropping a decades-old name widely criticized as racist. Later, in February 2022, the team unveiled a new identity built around the name Commanders, completing a rebranding process driven by social pressure, legal challenges, and evolving league norms. This explainer walks through the key dates and milestones, the legal and commercial backdrop, what changed for the team and sponsors, and how the story fits into the broader debate over sports mascots and naming in professional football.
Key facts at a glance
Below are concise, verifiable details that frame when and why the change occurred. Where estimates or ranges exist, the table notes the context and source types.
| Attribute | Verified detail | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Name in use before 2020 | Washington Redskins | Historical team records |
| Temporary name (2020–2021) | Washington Football Team | Official team announcement |
| New name announced | Washington Commanders | Team press release, February 2022 |
| First season as Commanders | 2022 | Team schedule and branding rollout |
| Owner at time of change | Daniel Snyder (transferred in 2023) | NFL and team filings |
| Estimated brand value loss (original name) | Roughly $4–6 billion | Independent brand valuations and business analyses |
| Estimated settlement costs (name-related claims) | Hundreds of millions | Financial disclosures and reports |
Background: the origins of “Redskins”
The term Redskins entered the team’s history after a merger moved Boston NFL football to Washington in 1937. Originally called the Boston Braves, the club soon became the Redskins in response to a player-coach who identified with Native American imagery. Over the decades, the franchise won multiple league championships, including back-to-back titles in the 1980s and additional Super Bowl wins in the 1990s and early 2000s. Throughout that rise, the name faced repeated criticism from Native American groups, scholars, and advocacy organizations, who highlighted harmful stereotypes and the psychological impact of such mascots. By the 21st century, several leagues and schools had retired similar names, setting the stage for the eventual shift in professional football.
Early criticism and mounting pressure
From the 1970s onward, Native American organizations and allies regularly protested the Redskins name at games and in the media. Campaigns focused on the term’s derogatory origins and its effect on Indigenous youth, with studies cited by opponents arguing that such mascots contribute to negative social perceptions. Corporate pressure began to build in the 1990s and 2000s as sponsors sought alignment with broadly accepted social values. Broadcasters and advertisers increasingly expressed discomfort, while fan protests and legal battles over trademarks added noise. The broader cultural context included decisions by other professional and collegiate teams to retire Native-themed names, making a change by a high-profile franchise seem increasingly plausible.
Trademark rulings and legal setbacks for the name
A turning point arrived in the 1990s when the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office canceled federal trademark registrations for Redskins. The rulings determined that the name could disparage Native Americans under existing law, stripping the team of certain exclusive rights and exposing it to challenges from sponsors and broadcasters. While the team appealed and continued to use the name, the legal losses created a lasting cloud over its brand. Courts and commentators emphasized that the decision reflected the name’s perceived harm rather than a simple policy shift. This legal vulnerability made the franchise more susceptible to external pressure from leagues, partners, and governments, framing the name as a growing business risk rather than a settled tradition.
2020: the public rebranding begins
In July 2020, amid widespread protests against racial injustice, the franchise announced it would temporarily retire the Redskins name and play the upcoming season as the Washington Football Team. The move was framed as a step to review options and listen to stakeholders, though few expected a permanent change so quickly. The decision came after years of polls showing declining public support for the Redskins name and increasing calls from sponsors, media partners, and fans. With television deals and stadium planning ongoing, the timing coincided with league-wide efforts to confront systemic racism, and the announcement signaled that even long-standing brands could face pressure to evolve. The choice of a neutral, descriptive name kept the team operational while a permanent solution was developed.
2021–2022: from Football Team to Commanders
Over the following year, the front office conducted focus groups, market research, and brand analysis to evaluate potential names. Multiple reports indicated that stakeholders favored a forward-looking identity untethered from a contested past. In February 2022, the team formally introduced the Washington Commanders, explaining that the name evoked leadership, discipline, and respect. The rollout included new logos, uniforms, and digital assets designed to signal a clean break from the Redskins era. The transition was supported by updated league filings, revised merchandise strategies, and partnerships that aligned the franchise with contemporary expectations around inclusion and representation. By the 2022 season opener, the Commanders took the field under their new identity, marking the end of a long and contentious naming chapter.
Stakeholder reactions and ongoing debate
Reaction to the change was mixed but generally aligned with broader trends in sports. Some fans welcomed a modernized brand, while others expressed nostalgia or resistance to departing from decades of tradition. Native American organizations largely praised the move as overdue, though some noted that the broader societal debate around mascots would continue. Sponsors and media partners broadly supported the shift, seeing it as necessary for long-term brand health. Analysts pointed to declines in merchandise sales and market uncertainty under the Redskins name as factors that made a change financially prudent. Although the original name persisted in the memories of many supporters, the transition to the Commanders reflected evolving standards around dignity, representation, and the commercial consequences of branding decisions.
What this means for the future of sports naming
The trajectory of the Washington franchise illustrates how legal rulings, public sentiment, and commercial pressures can converge to retire long-standing mascots. It also highlights the lasting influence of grassroots advocacy and research on naming practices in professional sports. Teams considering similar changes now have a recent, high-profile example of the risks, costs, and considerations involved. Moving forward, leagues, sponsors, and broadcasters are likely to remain more attentive to the social impact of mascots, and new scrutiny will continue to shape how organizations balance tradition with respect and brand value.
Conclusion
The Washington Redskins officially began the shift away from a decades-old name in July 2020, operating temporarily as the Washington Football Team before becoming the Washington Commanders in 2022. The change was driven by legal defeats, reputational risk, and broader cultural demands for more inclusive representation in sports. Understanding the timeline and context of this transition helps clarify why and when one of the NFL’s most storied franchises changed its name, and what that evolution means for sports branding going forward.