Washington Commanders Bring Back Redskins Merchandise, Reigniting Debate

WASHINGTON — Six years after Washington’s NFL franchise retired the Redskins name and logo, merchandise featuring the former identity has returned to the team’s retail operation, renewing a debate over one of the most controversial chapters in the franchise’s history.

The Washington Commanders are selling a limited selection of merchandise featuring the former Redskins branding, including items honoring former Washington players such as Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk, former Pro Bowl cornerback Darrell Green and late safety Sean Taylor.

The merchandise has drawn media attention because Washington officially retired the Redskins name in 2020 following years of criticism over the name and its connection to Native Americans. The franchise played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons before adopting the Commanders name in 2022.

The Commanders have said the merchandise does not represent a decision to restore the Redskins name or logo. Instead, the organization said it is using the former trademarks commercially to maintain the franchise’s control of them.

“We are required to maintain the marks in commercial usage so that marks remain under franchise control,” a team spokesperson said.

Becky Clayton Anderson, president of the Native American Guardians Association, said her organization supports the continued use of Native American names and imagery when they are presented respectfully.

“I feel like they’re just trying to erase our culture,” Anderson told The BayNet. “We already are the minority of all minorities. And so to take away the Redskins or the Braves or the Chiefs … is taking our dying culture and further eradicating it.”

Anderson, who said she is an enrolled member of the Hidatsa Tribe, said she grew up in central Illinois and attended schools that used Native American names and imagery. She said NAGA’s mission is “to educate and not eradicate” Native American names, images and traditions from sports.

Anderson said she viewed the Commanders’ decision to sell merchandise featuring the former Redskins identity positively, arguing that the continued use of the name demonstrates that it still has historical and commercial value.

“I’m glad that it’s clear that the name is still valuable and it hasn’t been erased from history,” Anderson said. “The fact that they’re still selling the merchandise tells me that the Commanders know good and well that it’s valuable.”

Anderson said she does not believe the Commanders necessarily need to reverse their decision to adopt the Commanders name. Instead, she supports the franchise continuing to acknowledge its history and the players who represented Washington during the Redskins era.

“I don’t feel like there’s any reason for them to reverse course and go back to the Redskins,” Anderson said. “So just having any kind of acknowledgement of their history … is a great way for the Commanders to still honor those players that were in their organization that played as Redskins.”

Anderson said she believes the former name and logo can be used respectfully and that keeping Native American imagery visible can provide opportunities for people to learn about Native history and culture.

She pointed to Florida State University’s relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as an example of what she considers respectful representation. Anderson said she was particularly impressed by the school’s use of Native American imagery and traditions during a visit to a Florida State football game.

The National Congress of American Indians has taken a different position on Native American imagery in sports. NCAI has publicly opposed Native-themed mascots, caricatures and symbols, arguing that such imagery can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and cultural appropriation.

The BayNet reached out to NCAI for an interview and an opportunity to comment on the Commanders’ merchandise but did not receive a response.

The differing positions illustrate the broader debate surrounding Native American imagery in sports. NAGA supports preserving Native American names and imagery when they are used respectfully, while NCAI has maintained its opposition to Native-themed sports mascots and imagery.

Anderson said removing the names and imagery entirely could reduce opportunities for Native American history to remain part of the public conversation.

“If we continue to oppose Native American names and images and those go away and people stop talking about them, how are we going to keep our heritage alive?” Anderson said.

For the Commanders, the organization maintains that the merchandise does not signal a change in plans for the franchise’s name.

The team continues to operate as the Washington Commanders and has not indicated that it intends to restore the Redskins identity. The franchise continues to recognize its history, including the years it spent as the Redskins and the players who became associated with that era.

For Anderson, that connection to the past is worth preserving.

“I would thank them for not completely forgetting where they started,” Anderson said. “I would also thank them for not completely erasing the Redskin name.”

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