When ownership of the team changed hands earlier this month, many wondered is there was a chance the new ownership group would change the team’s name. More fuel was added to that fire when ESPN senior writer Don Van Natta Jr. stated on the Rich Eisen Show that “There’s a ‘pretty good chance’ the new ownership of the Washington Commanders will change the franchise name and have a ‘complete re-branding’ of the team.” Vegas has even released odds on the name-change happening and possibilities on what the new name could be. Now, a report from Sports Illustrated’s The Spun states that the new ownership group refers to the team as the “Redskins” when discussing their long-term plan.
ESPN’s Commanders reporter John Keim shared the following from head coach Ron Rivera on people using the term Redskins more since new ownership came in: “Well I know this, [Washington Commanders Managing Partner] Mr. [Josh] Harris and that ownership group talked extensively about bringing back the glory. And again, what Coach Gibbs did, the traditions, that alumni group of guys that are around. It’s hard to escape it. It really is. That’s just the truth of the matter. Just so everybody knows, we do that with the utmost respect for the native tribes and for the American Indian. Anytime that’s brought up. it is brought up with the utmost of respect.”
