THE WASHINGTON NO-NAMES
After decades of resistance, D.C.’s NFL nickname gets the boot
It took the request of their stadium sponsor, but Washington has finally removed the racial slur that’s been its team nickname since 1933.
The team released a statement that used the team’s logo once and the slur multiple times.
“On July 3rd, we announced the commencement of a thorough review of the team’s name. That review has begun in earnest. As a part of this process, we want to keep our sponsors, fans and community appraised of our thinking as we go forward.
“Today, we are announcing we will be retiring the (redacted) name and logo upon completion of this review.
“Dan Snyder and Coach Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years.”
Considering Washington listed its “sponsors,” when it really meant FedEx, it’s clear that the money was the main reasoning for doing this. Not a newfound love and understanding of indigenous Americans.
Thank you, FedEx. Thank you for waiting until racial tensions were the highest they’ve been in years to finally give a damn about a disenfranchised group of the population before using your gigantic wallet to push through social change.
The team doesn’t have a new name lined up yet, but that should be happening soon. Nike has already removed all of Washington’s gear with the slur on it and Rivera said last week that he would like the name to be changed within two months.
Rivera will apparently have a sizable role in the name change, which is a bit odd because the new name will eventually outlast Rivera’s tenure as head coach.
“It was hard to fathom that it was in any way a racist thing, to be honest with you,” Rivera said in an interview with the Washington Post. “Now, putting it in perspective, there’s been a change. My eyes are wide open.”
Last week, Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic reported that a source told her, “The pressure has never been greater. Let me put it this way: If they don’t change the name in the next 12 months I don’t think they ever will.”
Training camp is about two weeks from starting, so Washington will quickly need to make moves on the new name of the franchise. Time is running out to rebrand the team before the season is scheduled to start.
This will be the NFL’s first name change since the late 1990s, when the Tennessee Oilers became the Titans two seasons after moving from Houston.
After President Trump last week criticized Washington and the Cleveland Indians for considering name changes, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president “believes that the Native American community would be very angry at this and he does have polling to back him up.” She cited a 2016 Washington Post poll showing 90% of Native Americans aren’t offended by the name, a survey that has since been discredited by experts.
Native American advocates and experts have long criticized the name they call a “dictionary-defined racial slur.” More than a dozen Native leaders and organizations wrote to NFL commis
sioner Roger Goodell last week demanding an immediate end to Washington’s use of the name. Goodell, who has fielded questions on the topic for years, said he supported the review.
“The NFL and Dan Snyder, we have to commend them on making the right call to change the name,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, leader of the “Change the Mascot” campaign. “Dan Snyder won today because now he has a legacy that will be different from the racial slur that was the team name. I know that’s not an easy thing to do, but it was the right thing to do.”
The lease at FedEx Field expires in 2027, and dropping the name keeps open various possibilities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington for the team’s new stadium and headquarters. District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser has said the name was an “obstacle” to Snyder building on the old RFK Stadium site, which is believed to be his preference.
Bowser said she welcomed the name change but there were still obstacles to overcome before the team’s return from suburban Maryland became a serious possibility.
“Yes, we want to change the name and change the location,” she said. “The Washington football team should be playing in Washington.”