Those waiting for a new name for the football team from Washington will have to wait longer.
The Washington Football Team is still searching for a new name after dropping its prior racist moniker after decades of pressure from Native American groups, with owner Dan Snyder opting for a name change after sponsors threatened to pull out of deals with the team.
In October, team officials said the likelihood of a new name for the 2021 season was slim, given that the protocol and timeline by the league would’ve been prohibitive when it came to new uniforms, merchandise and the like.
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Now, the launch of WashingtonJourney.com — a website dedicated to discussing the history of the Washington name — indicates that the team is expected to introduce a new name into the fold in 2022. The site also includes an area where fans can suggest names and logos for the new team nickname.
Here’s the latest on the new Washington team name and when to expect it:
Washington Football Team new name in 2021
For the 2021 season, the Washington Football Team will be known as … *drumroll* … the Washington Football Team.
The team is currently eyeing a total rebrand for 2022 after launching a website announcing the new team name coming for the 2022 NFL season. Fans can also provide input on a new team name on the site, with some logos and names being shared.
The news isn’t entirely surprising, considering that Washington president Jason Wright said in October that he expected the Washington Football Team moniker to stick for at least one more season.
“I think next year is fast because of how the brand has to come together through uniforms, through approval processes through the league,” Wright said. “Next year is fast. There is a pretty good chance we will still be the Washington Football Team next season. We could get there quicker — it’s actually pretty hard to get there that quickly because of all the steps that need to happen.”
Some new team names that have been bandied about: Redwolves, Redtails, Redhawks, Generals, Warriors and the longshot Jeffersons.
In any case, they’ll be movin’ on up to a new name coming in 2022.