Since Josh Harris and his group of limited partners bought the Washington Commanders, there has been speculation on the team’s name. While another name change could be on the horizon, the new owners have eliminated the thought of the team returning to its old name, Redskins.
Earlier this week, top limited partner Mitchell Rales said the “ship has sailed” on the old name coming back. On Friday, Harris explained why he wanted to end the conversation now before the season started.
“Obviously, I grew up in D.C., and I was there during the glory years, so I understand why fans love the former name,” Harris said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “But, look, there was a portion of our fan base that felt disrespected by the former name. Sports are supposed to bring people together and not be a distraction. I don’t want distractions.”
Instead, Harris wanted the focus to be on the Commanders players, winning, and the fan experience.
“I thought it was important that we end the conversation,” Harris continued.
The controversy surrounding the Commanders’ old moniker existed for decades. Former owner Daniel Snyder vowed to “never” change the name. However, in July 2020, the team dropped the former name after pressure from sponsors such as FedEx, Nike, and Pepsi.
After Harris bought the team, he inadvertently sparked speculation about the old name returning. Even limited partner Magic Johnson added fuel to the situation, leading to some fans pushing a petition that existed to go back to Redskins.
Understanding the magnitude of the situation, Harris and Rales have got in front to put out the flames. Will the team name change down the road? There has been an indication of it. But the Commanders’ ownership is loud and clear the old name is not coming back.
