Washington Football Team Unveils New Team Name

ESPN reports that the former Washington Redskins have selected a nickname that they will use in the 2020 season: the Washington Football Team.

Earlier this month, the former Washington Redskins announced that they would be changing their team name after decades of political pressure and weeks of internal pressure from team sponsors. However, they did not announce a new team name at the time, leading to speculation that possible replacement names such as the Washington Warriors and Washington Red Tails were already trademarked.

The name "Washington Football Team" is a temporary measure until a new name is chosen. The organization will reportedly seek "feedback of players, alumni, fans, sponsors and the community" on the new name of the team. The team's uniforms will still be burgundy and gold, and "Washington Football Team" merch is said to be coming soon.

Washington brass has famously been resistant to changing the name after protests against the name began in the 1980s, so the announcement is a small victory for activists clamoring for the team to be renamed. However, the apparent bungling of a replacement name selection was cause for schadenfreude on Twitter, as people mocked the generic temporary solution.

the washington football team’s new uniforms: pic.twitter.com/EBcnwUnoab

— adam 💫💫💫 (@TrillTaysom) July 23, 2020

They had all that time and came up with, “Washington Football Team”..
🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) July 23, 2020

I'm digging this new Washington Football Team mascot pic.twitter.com/Gn0YNRrkqF

— Rob (@robrousseau) July 23, 2020

I will be roasting the ‘Washington Football Team’ until further notice pic.twitter.com/wR39VNkfMs

— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) July 23, 2020

Adding salt to the wound is the fact that the NHL announced today that it would be placing a new team in Seattle, called the Seattle Kraken, which everyone agreed was a much cooler name than "Washington Football Team."

The Washington Football Team had to follow this for their announcement. They had no chance. pic.twitter.com/iAirbU7Kg8

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 23, 2020