Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris was asked Sunday about the team’s current nickname and whether it will stick around for the time being.
Josh’s wife, Marjorie Harris, said in May that a change was “possible,” and Josh poured cold water on the team by rejoining the Redskins last September.
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Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris watches the game from the sideline before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedExField on Dec. 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Scott Tetch/Getty Images)
On Sunday, he made it clear that the Redskins name would not be coming back.
“For obvious reasons, we can’t bring back the old name,” Harris told reporters, via The Athletic , “but right now we’re focused on uniting the team and uniting the city that unites the team. Our No. 1 goal is to start winning football games. We need people rooting for our team. We don’t need anything that’s going to divide people.”
“Secondly, we’re looking for a new home, obviously. Again, it’s important to unify the city around that, and the name is one of those things that gets a lot of input. But I’ve never forgotten it. Like I said, I grew up here, so I understand.”
Washington Commanders guard Dan Quinn, left, poses for a photo with managing partner Josh Harris following a press conference at the OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park in Ashburn, Virginia, Feb. 5, 2024. (Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
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Harris added that fans will not only see the series’ name, but also things that pay tribute to the franchise’s past history.
“We’re looking into it, we’re considering it, but at this point we’re prioritizing the things we’ve talked about and that’s kind of the basis for it.”
The team announced it would transition from the Washington Football Team and Washington Redskins to become the Commanders before the 2022 season.
However, the Commanders were sued by the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) over the nickname change in September 2023. New head coach Dan Quinn also wore a T-shirt featuring the feather from the Redskins’ original logo and the new “W” from the Commanders’ logo.
Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris high-fives a fan before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at FedExField on September 10, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Scott Tetch/Getty Images)
Former team owner Daniel Snyder changed the team’s name from the Redskins to the Washington Football Team during a summer of rising racial tensions in the United States.
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However, NAGA has been leading a campaign to counter the negativity surrounding the name.
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