Washington’s NFL team announced Thursday that it would call itself the “Washington Football Team” until it adopts a new, permanent name for the football franchise.
The team, formerly known as the Washington Redskins, said in a statement that new team uniforms reflecting the change will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Players’ helmets that previously included the team’s former logo will be replaced with the corresponding player’s number.
The changes to the team’s home uniform will debut in the team’s first game this season, set to be against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“For updated brand clarity and consistency purposes, we will call ourselves the ‘Washington Football Team’ pending adoption of our new name. The Redskins name and logo will officially be retired by the start of the 2020 season. We encourage fans, media and all other parties to use ‘Washington Football Team’ immediately,” reads a statement on the team’s website, which remains “Redskins.com.”
The team announced earlier this month that it would retire its name, which has long been criticized as a racial slur against Native Americans.
Franchise owner Dan Snyder resisted changing the team’s name for years. “We’ll never change the name,” Snyder told USA Today in 2013. “It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”
However, the team said in early July that it would undergo a “thorough review” of its name amid a national conversation about racial injustice and pressure from sponsors to change the name. The team announced later that it would retire the “Redskins” name.
“Dan Snyder and Coach [Ron] Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years,” the franchise announced earlier this month.
Colors for the team will reportedly remain burgundy and gold, while the team will reportedly seek public feedback in the course of picking a new, permanent name.
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