Washington Commanders co-owner Marjorie Harris said the franchise will stick with its much-discussed team name — at least in the short term.
Harris was asked Wednesday after a Washington Post poll indicated most D.C.-area sports fans said they either dislike or hate the Commanders’ name.
“Everybody has an opinion about the name. Some good, some bad, some in the middle. And I think that we have a lot of work to do and so that name issue is going to be on the side for now until we can get things going,” she said.
Washington changed its name to the Commanders on Feb. 2, 2022. The team played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons before that, retiring its old moniker in 2020 after years of backlash.
Had the opportunity to ask Commanders owner Majorie Harris about the team name:
"Quite frankly, I had a whole day out in the community, and I kept referring to the team as the Commanders. And you know what? Sounds pretty good to me. So, for now, it's the Commanders." pic.twitter.com/SdsORINpYu
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 29, 2024
The Harrises purchased the team from Dan Snyder last year, raising questions about whether the relatively new Commanders name would stick. But a name change doesn’t sound like an immediate priority for new ownership. The 2024 season will mark Washington’s third with its current name.
“I had a whole day out in the community, and I kept referring to the team as the Commanders,” Harris said. “And you know what? Sounds pretty good to me.
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“So, for now, it’s the Commanders.”
Harris, chair of the Commanders Foundation, and team president Jason Wright spoke at the Rocketship Rise Academy Public Charter School in the Southeast part of the nation’s capital as part of the organization’s Day of Service. Wright tackled a more immediate topic: the franchise potentially returning to Washington.
Choosing a site for a new stadium is one priority. Locations in Maryland, including the team’s current home, and Virginia in consideration along with the RFK Stadium site in the District where the franchise called home until 1996.
The nostalgic momentum for a return was slowed this month when Senator Steve Daines (Montana-R) delayed a vote on a bill that, if passed, would turn control of the RFK property over to the DC Government. Mayor Muriel Bowser is an advocate for building a Commanders stadium.
Daines, ranking member of the Senate National Parks subcommittee, is seeking recognition for the family of Blackie Wetzel, a deceased member of the Blackfeet Tribe who created the team’s logo when it used the former nickname.
Wright said he is optimistic the two sides can agree on a resolution.
“There certainly is. The Wetzel family has been so collaborative. They’ve helped to educate us, “ Wright said. “We feel like there’s several different great ways to honor the family. I think that’s what Senator Daines was saying.”
If passed in the Senate, the bill, having already moved through Congress, would be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. Josh Harris, a lifelong fan of the franchise, owns Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland.
Washington’s 2024 rookie class attended the event including first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Required reading
- Commanders front-office makeover: Lions, Ravens execs arriving; Chris Polian departing: Sources
- Jonathan Allen: The vibe surrounding Commanders ‘has truly been reinvigorating’
- Washington Commanders 2024 schedule: The Jayden Daniels tour debuts in Tampa
(Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images)