Commanders owner: Team name here to stay

Field Level Media|published: Mon 3rd February, 13:42 2025

Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris in attendance of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Washington Commanders principal owner Josh Harris put all the questions to rest about the team's name on Monday.

The Commanders are here to stay.

"It's now being embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff," he said of the moniker. "We're going with that."

A Washington Post-Schar School poll in April showed only 16 percent of Commanders fans supported keeping the name, adopted in 2022 after the franchise spent two seasons as the Washington Football Team. That name was used as the franchise moved on from Redskins, which it had used since 1937.

But after a 12-5 season that saw Washington land in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1991 season, the name has staying power, Harris said at a news conference.

"Now, in this building, the name Commanders means something," he said. "It's about players who love football, are great at football, hit hard, mentally tough, great teammates. It's really meaningful. That name is growing in meaning."

With the name issue settled, Harris said the Commanders would emphasize improving the roster, "fixing up" team headquarters in Ashburn, Va., and moving on with plans to move out of dated Northwest Stadium in suburban Landover, Md., and into a new stadium.

--Field Level Media

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