{"id":274494,"date":"2026-04-14T15:41:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=274494"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:41:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:41:38","slug":"from-redskins-to-football-team-to-commanders-a-complicated-path-that-finally-feels-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/04\/14\/from-redskins-to-football-team-to-commanders-a-complicated-path-that-finally-feels-right\/","title":{"rendered":"From Redskins to Football Team to Commanders: A Complicated Path That Finally Feels Right"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

13 <\/span>July <\/span>2020 <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>what <\/span>you <\/span>would <\/span>consider <\/span>a <\/span>fresh <\/span>beginning.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

It <\/span>felt <\/span>like <\/span>something <\/span>had <\/span>been <\/span>snatched <\/span>away <\/span>from <\/span>you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There <\/span>was <\/span>no <\/span>long <\/span>wind-up, <\/span>no <\/span>gentle <\/span>easing <\/span>of <\/span>fans <\/span>into <\/span>a <\/span>concept. <\/span><\/span><\/span>One <\/span>moment, <\/span>the <\/span>Redskins <\/span><\/a>existed, <\/span>carrying <\/span>with <\/span>it <\/span>memories <\/span>dating <\/span>back <\/span>decades, <\/span>the <\/span>next, <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>gone. <\/span><\/span><\/span>For <\/span>many, <\/span>that <\/span>alone <\/span>was <\/span>what <\/span>stung. Not <\/span>that <\/span>it <\/span>had <\/span>to <\/span>change, <\/span>but in the way that it did.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Because <\/span>even <\/span>with <\/span>how <\/span>emotional <\/span>the <\/span>entire <\/span>affair <\/span>was, <\/span>there <\/span>was <\/span>something <\/span>more <\/span>subtle <\/span>underlying <\/span>it, <\/span>which <\/span>made <\/span>it <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>more <\/span>painful <\/span>to <\/span>deal <\/span>with.
\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

From Redskins to Football Team to Commanders: A Complicated Path That Finally Feels Right<\/h2>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Was it a Morality or Money Decision?<\/h3>\n
It <\/span>did <\/span>not <\/span>feel <\/span>as <\/span>though <\/span>the <\/span>organization <\/span>had <\/span>taken <\/span>a <\/span>step <\/span>back <\/span>to <\/span>determine <\/span>this <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>appropriate <\/span>course <\/span>of <\/span>action; <\/span>it <\/span>did <\/span>not <\/span>feel <\/span>as <\/span>though <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>turning <\/span>point <\/span>born <\/span>from <\/span>soul-searching. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Had <\/span>that <\/span>been <\/span>the <\/span>case, <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>unlikely <\/span>that <\/span>fans <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>reacted <\/span>the <\/span>way <\/span>that <\/span>they <\/span>did. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Not <\/span>necessarily <\/span>better, <\/span>or <\/span>worse, <\/span>but <\/span>they <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>likely <\/span>taken <\/span>comfort <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>thought <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>change <\/span>came <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>top.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The decision was 100% business motivated.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Nike <\/span>discontinuing <\/span>all <\/span>Washington <\/span>merchandise <\/span>on <\/span>their <\/span>website <\/span>during <\/span>the <\/span>first <\/span>week <\/span>of <\/span>July <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>symbolic; <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>pure <\/span>commerce. Nike had leverage and used its political stance,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>carrying <\/span>the <\/span>clout <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>league\u2019s <\/span>official <\/span>supplier. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Once <\/span>that <\/span>became <\/span>clear <\/span>and <\/span>Nike <\/span>stood <\/span>along <\/span>with <\/span>FedEx <\/span>and <\/span>PepsiCo <\/span>putting <\/span>heat <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>organization, <\/span>it <\/span>seemed <\/span>only <\/span>obvious <\/span>that <\/span>this <\/span>would <\/span>happen.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n

Not <\/span>because <\/span>the <\/span>organization <\/span>collectively <\/span>changed <\/span>its <\/span>mind, <\/span>but <\/span>because <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>compelled <\/span>to for morally sound reasons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

And <\/span>therein <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>source <\/span>of <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>irritation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n

Rebranding to the Washington Football Team<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The name change to the Washington Football Team <\/a><\/span>somehow <\/span>felt <\/span>even <\/span>more <\/span>bizarre.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
After <\/span>all <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>feeling <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>buildup <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>emotions. <\/span><\/span>It <\/span>sounded <\/span>like <\/span>it <\/span>barely <\/span>was <\/span>even <\/span>a <\/span>name. <\/span><\/span>It <\/span>sounded <\/span>temporary <\/span>because <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>temporary, <\/span>but <\/span>you <\/span>still <\/span>had <\/span>no <\/span>problem <\/span>saying <\/span>out <\/span>loud <\/span>how <\/span>completely <\/span>absurd <\/span>the <\/span>whole <\/span>situation <\/span>was.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
You really had no choice but to laugh at the name. <\/span><\/span>Rival <\/span>fans <\/span>cracked <\/span>jokes <\/span>immediately. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>It felt <\/span>incomplete <\/span>and <\/span>sounded <\/span>that <\/span>way <\/span>as <\/span>well. <\/span><\/span>It <\/span>literally <\/span>felt <\/span>like <\/span>they’d <\/span>just <\/span>put <\/span>the <\/span>franchise <\/span>on <\/span>pause <\/span>for <\/span>an <\/span>indefinite <\/span>amount <\/span>of <\/span>time.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
But then the games began, and the vibe changed a bit. There was no mascot or branding to pick apart. Only the numbers, the colors, and the game. It was less thrilling than they\u2019d hoped, but it was also less overwhelming. In the context of the last year and a half, the straightforward nature of it was more welcoming than anyone anticipated.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For a little while, it even seemed like it might be more lasting than they had anticipated.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
That made the final step feel that much more awkward.<\/div>\n

New Beginnings: The Washington Commanders\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
After two years of waiting, the team was called the Commanders.<\/a> And after another outpouring of emotion, the response was strangely subdued. It wasn\u2019t that no one cared, it was that they\u2019d already gone through the hard part. The name didn’t generate gasps. It didn’t instantly convince fans. But it didn’t dredge up everything July of 2020 did.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Because time had passed. And that changes everything. At some point it stopped being about the name. It became about everything else. The history was never going away. The culture was never going away, and the memories were never going to fade. The games you watched with your dad. Your favorite players and the ones you wish they never went after in free agency. This Super Bowl years and the two decade long stretch of misery.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
None of those memories were ever tied to the logo as much as anyone thought.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It was tied to the feeling.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
And <\/span>because <\/span>of <\/span>that, <\/span>there’s <\/span>a <\/span>different <\/span>kind <\/span>of <\/span>acceptance <\/span>today<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>There’s <\/span>a <\/span>time <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>life <\/span>where <\/span>you <\/span>realize <\/span>you <\/span>aren’t <\/span>losing <\/span>anything. <\/span><\/span><\/span>You <\/span>already <\/span>lived <\/span>it and you<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>already <\/span>experienced <\/span>it. <\/span><\/span><\/span>No <\/span>one <\/span>can <\/span>ever <\/span>take <\/span>that <\/span>away, <\/span>no <\/span>matter <\/span>what <\/span>name <\/span>is <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>uniform <\/span>today.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span>It\u2019s <\/span>sort <\/span>of <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>final <\/span>episode your favorite long running<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>television <\/span>show <\/span>ending. <\/span><\/span><\/span>You <\/span>know <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>not <\/span>coming <\/span>back <\/span>again, <\/span>that <\/span>that <\/span>chapter <\/span>has <\/span>closed. <\/span><\/span><\/span>But <\/span>the <\/span>memories <\/span>still <\/span>are. T<\/span>he <\/span>lines <\/span>you <\/span>remember, <\/span>the <\/span>moments <\/span>that <\/span>played <\/span>out <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>head <\/span>again, and <\/span>the <\/span>feelings <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>episode <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>best <\/span>part <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>week. T<\/span>hose moments <\/span>never <\/span>really <\/span>go <\/span>away <\/span>just <\/span>because <\/span>it <\/span>ended. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n

<\/span><\/span>It’s <\/span>something <\/span>you <\/span>just <\/span>carry <\/span>with <\/span>you <\/span>now. <\/span><\/span><\/span>And <\/span>at <\/span>some <\/span>point, <\/span>not <\/span>really <\/span>being <\/span>aware <\/span>it’s <\/span>even <\/span>happening, <\/span>the <\/span>present <\/span>stops <\/span>struggling <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>past. <\/span><\/span><\/span>It <\/span>simply <\/span>exists <\/span>next <\/span>to <\/span>it. <\/span><\/span><\/span>This <\/span>is <\/span>where <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>today. <\/span><\/span><\/span>And <\/span>truth <\/span>be <\/span>told, <\/span>it’s <\/span>a <\/span>pretty <\/span>decent <\/span>place <\/span>to <\/span>finally <\/span>arrive.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I’m finally at peace with being a Washington Commanders<\/a> fan. And you should be too.<\/p>\n

Main Image: Ana Beltran\/Reuters via Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

13 July 2020 was not what you would consider a fresh beginning. It felt like something had been snatched away from you. There was no long wind-up, no gentle easing of fans into a concept. One moment, the Redskins existed, carrying with it memories dating back decades, the next, it was gone. For many, that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5774,"featured_media":274698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6431,8896],"tags":[8996],"class_list":["post-274494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-teams","category-washington-commanders","tag-washington-commanders-news"],"modified_by":"Mike Roberts","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5774"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=274494"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":274703,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/274494\/revisions\/274703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/274698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=274494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=274494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=274494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}