Linebacker Von Miller Addresses Press Conference for Washington Commanders

Linebacker Von Miller officially joined the Washington Commanders, and in the process, he referred to the team as the “Washington Redskins” during his inaugural press conference. This occurred on the team’s first day as they introduced two Super Bowl champions ahead of the 2025 season.

Within moments of stepping onto the stage, Miller mentioned, perhaps a bit awkwardly, that it wasn’t the best timing for such a reference. “The Washington Redskins called me a month and a half ago…” he stated, seemingly caught off guard by his own words.

“I’m excited to be here for my 15th year in the league,” Miller expressed. He added, “It never gets old. After four months of work, my outlook has shifted a bit.”

Reflecting on personal time, he mentioned enjoying picking up his children from school during the holidays, even as he felt the pangs of missing out on team practices. “Picking them up is great, but I really want to get to work,” he added, hinting at his eagerness.

Following a pause, Miller made an unexpected remark: “The Washington Redskins reached out to me about a month and a half ago, we started discussions, and I agreed to come here about a week ago. I’m very eager to start here.”

While maybe an oversight, his use of “Redskins” was perhaps understandable given his long history with the name. No corrections were issued at the press conference, and the event proceeded.

Interestingly, the timing of this statement comes amidst broader discussions over the team’s name change. Just days prior, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed President Trump’s suggestion that the Commanders should revert to their old name. Trump even indicated that he might obstruct the construction of a new stadium for the team unless the name was changed back.

“I refuse to do any business for a stadium in Washington unless it’s called the Redskins,” he commented on social media.

A reporter sought clarity, asking Leavitt whether the President’s comments were serious. “Yes, the President was serious,” she confirmed, discussing his passion for sports and interest in the matter.

Leavitt also noted that polls indicate many sports fans support the President’s stance. In a recent survey by the Washington Post, only 32% of Commanders’ fans expressed a fondness for the current name, while 57% indicated a dislike for it. A more recent survey shows slightly better results, with 50% of locals and 62% of fans liking or loving the name, though 36% of DC residents and 33% of Commanders supporters still have unfavorable views.