Latest news with #Redskins'
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump delivers shock verdict on Washington Commanders name change after NFL team dropped controversial Redskins
President Donald Trump wouldn't quite endorse the Washington Commanders changing the NFL team's name back to the 'Redskins' - which was considered a slur by a number of Native American groups. He did voice support for the Kansas City Chiefs - and mocked Cleveland for changing the name of its MLB franchise from Indians to Guardians. Trump was asked if he'd tie the Commanders' football stadium deal in Washington, D.C. to reverting the name back to the original. 'Now Washington, the Redskins, perhaps that's a little different, a little different,' he said. 'I think it's a superior name to what they have right now,' he also volunteered. He added that, 'we're about bringing common sense back to this country.' The 'Redskins' name had been at the center of controversy for decades since a movement to begin phasing out the use of Native Americans as mascots began in the 1960s. For years, the National Congress of American Indians - a non-profit organization that represents indigenous tribes in the nation's capital - viewed the nickname as a racial slur. The NCAI and a number of individual tribes and indigenous people protested the name and lobbied former team owner Dan Snyder to change the name. Attitudes on the nickname changed over time and by the mid-2010s, studies had shown a growing animosity among American Indians toward the name. Additionally, the sight of fans of different races donning Native headdresses and 'war paint' had become far too common. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests for racial equality in 2020 as well as pressure from the league and its sponsors, the team abandoned the 'Redskins' moniker and played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons. In 2022, it was announced that the team would be re-branded as the Commanders. Following Snyder's sale of the franchise to Josh Harris, fans have lobbied the new owner to revert to the old name. Additionally, the Native American Guardians Association - an organization which vocally opposes the removal of Native American mascots - launched a petition to bring the name back. After Trump was re-elected, many fans hoped that he could somehow force the team or the NFL to bring the 'Redskins' name back. However, as both the NFL and the Commanders are private businesses, Trump has no authority to force a name change. A fan of the Redskins in 2019, wearing a native headdress and 'war paint' in Miami Additionally, the team's attempts to move from its current home in Landover, Maryland and back into the DC city limits at a new venue on the site of the old RFK Stadium could be a roadblock to bringing back the old identity. The Commanders were founded in Boston in 1932. The city was awarded a franchise by the NFL under the ownership of George Preston Marshall. Initially, the team was known as the Boston Braves and shared the name with a National League baseball team (which eventually moved to Milwaukee, then to their current home of Atlanta) and shared the same stadium, Braves Field. After just one season under the Braves moniker and at Braves Field, Marshall changed the name to Redskins and moved the team to Fenway Park. Eventually, they moved to Washington in 1937. Marshall had been accused of racism throughout his career in football as he promoted a 'gentleman's agreement' in the league to not sign any black players. That 'agreement' held up until 1946. It wasn't until 1962 that the Redskins finally integrated (the last team in the NFL to do so) after Marshall was threatened by then-Attorney general Robert Kennedy and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall. The two cabinet members said that if the team didn't sign a black player, the government would revoke the franchise's lease on DC Stadium (now RFK Stadium). In that year's NFL Draft, Marshall selected Syracuse running back Ernie Davis, the first black player to ever win the Heisman Trophy. When Davis refused to play for the team, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns for running back Bobby Mitchell and he became the team's first black player.
USA Today
06-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Is the honeymoon over for Commanders' Josh Harris?
There is often a honeymoon period until it too concludes. Rick Snider's Washington says Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris' honeymoon with fans is over. Gimme one minute. — Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) February 5, 2025 Perhaps no one in the DMV has been more loved than Josh Harris was in July 2023. Harris had just been granted by the NFL approval for his new ownership of the Commanders. Training camp was beginning, and the fans not only came out in great numbers, but the atmosphere was actually celebratory. Though the team played horribly, Ron Rivera, Jack Del Rio, and Eric Bieniemy proved to be a major disappointment, and the team finished 4-13, Harris went unscathed. Harris had arrived and taken the helm at his initial press conference, using the word 'Redskins' and the fan base was electric. Not only was Daniel Snyder gone, but Harris was bringing back the name 'Redskins' because, after all, he had used the word 'Redskins.' That's how 'logic' works for many people these days. Simply listen to some of the political pundits on television. They can reach conclusions that are simply not via logical reasoning. They hear what they want to hear. I have loved the 'Redskins' franchise since my childhood. My first 'Redskins' memories go back to the 1969 season, and I've been following them closely (too closely) ever since. I was upset when the name was changed. I knew the actual history of how the name 'Redskins' was adopted for the 1933 season, and it was not to demean Native Americans. By 2020, the opposition had reached the point where NFL owners were not being supportive publicly of the name 'Redskins.' They were caving under public pressure. Without that support, 'Redskins' would soon die. Harris probably still prefers 'Redskins.' However, he is not stupid. He is fully aware NFL owners would not back such a proposal. He is also fully aware there would be an instant national outcry, slandering him as a 'racist.' Harris also knows the Commanders just enjoyed a hugely successful season. The first winning season following four losing seasons since 'Redskins' was dropped. He is altogether certain he will sell more Commanders merchandise and season tickets this offseason. He is also confident in winning as they did, helping many more accept 'Commanders.' Yes, he will lose some who refuse to accept anything other than 'Redskins' be the name of their team. Yet, as the team continues to win, making the fan base proud of their team, 'Commanders' will become easier to accept. Though I still wish the name was 'Redskins,' there will be more and more of us putting winning on the field as the core value, and the name will become more of a peripheral value. Yes, for some, the honeymoon is over for Josh Harris. But he actually never said he was going to bring back 'Redskins.' Harris continues to pour money into improving Northwest Stadium and the Ashburn facility. He also made huge scores hiring Adam Peters and Dan Quinn. And now Harris has Jayden Daniels as well.
