The Washington Football Team has been “nameless” since deciding to finally change their team name in the summer of 2020. After decades of controversy, owner Daniel Snyder announced that there would be a “thorough review” of the club’s name, citing a desire to get input from a variety of groups. Now nearly two NFL seasons later, has the organization found its new name? Here are the most recent rumors and NFL odds regarding the long-awaited reveal of Washington’s new team name.
When will the Washington Football Team choose a new team name?
After team president Jason Wright teased that the new name would be revealed in 2022, the organization wasted little time in selecting a date. The Washington Football Team’s new name will be revealed on February 2, 2022.
“The new name and logo will be revealed in early 2022,” Wright said in an interview. “And [it] will retain the traditional burgundy and gold colors that are entrenched in the team’s history.”
Wright, a fairly new name in the Washington organization, was brought in as the president in August 2020. This was during a time where the team was mired in controversy, not just because of its name but also due to a flood of harassment claims made by former employees.
The move made Wright the first black president of an NFL team, as well as the youngest active president at the time of his hiring.
Washington Football Team name options and odds
The mystery around the actual name options was squashed when Tanya Snyder, co-CEO of the team, announced the list on a podcast with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This list was created after a thorough rebranding process that included more than 40,000 submissions from fans. The original eight possibilities were:
- Armada (+1000)
- Brigade (+1200)
- Commanders (+600)
- Defenders (+900)
- Presidents (+3000)
- Red Hogs (+700)
- Red Wolves (N/A)
- Washington Football Team (+300)
*Odds created via SportsLine oddsmakers
This list has already been cut down though, as it was announced that Red Wolves would not be the choice due to trademark issues with other pro sports teams.
“Early on we understood Wolves — or some variation of it — was one of our fan favorites,” Wright wrote in a press release. “As I’ve said all along, we take feedback from our fans seriously, and because of your interest in this name, we put Wolves on a list of options to explore fully.
“Once we began looking into Wolves, however, we became aware of a notable challenge: trademarks held by other teams would limit our ability to make the name our own. And without Wolves, variations like RedWolves wouldn’t have been viable either for these and other reasons.”
Washington Football Team name rumors and history
Of the seven options, are there any Washington Football Team name rumors or hints as to which will be announced? What is the history behind each of the current options?
Armada, Brigade, Commanders, and Defenders
If you look at these names, they all have to do with the military. Armada means a fleet of warships or vehicles. A brigade is a subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of infantry battalions. Commander is a military rank. Defender is a little less specific in terms of the military but does signify defense and defending one’s rights.
[bet-bonus id=”164810″ ]Washington head coach Ron Rivera would prefer that the team name hold some sort of military significance.
“This issue is of personal importance to me,” Rivera said. “I look forward to working closely with Dan Snyder to make sure we continue the mission of honoring and supporting Native Americans and our military.”
Could Admirals be a surprise selection?
One name that was actually not on Snyder’s original reveal but has garnered some attention is Admirals. In fact, if you went to the WashingtonAdmirals.com website today, it would redirect to the Washington Football Team’s official site.
This has since been changed, but the name could make sense. Admirals would fit with the military theme and also with the recent reveal that the team’s new look would include stars.
Will the Washington Football Team become the Red Hogs?
There are rumors that claim the Washington Football Team decided to reveal their team name on Groundhog Day because they will become the Red Hogs.
The Red Hogs actually have some historical importance to Washington, as the team’s offensive line used the nickname during the late 1980s and early 1990s. During that time, the club won three Super Bowls. This could be a perfect way to tie in the past with the future and create a new identity.
Washington Presidents?
This one seems a little too obvious. Yes, it would be a good way to honor their DC location, but Washington Presidents would also carry some significant political backlash.
Could they remain the Washington Football Team?
Although the jokes have piled on over the last two seasons, there is a chance that Washington decides to continue on as The Football Team. They have developed a brand in the past few seasons, and NFL announcers are just starting to get it right. It would be a tad lackluster, but maybe they remain the Washington Football Team.