In 2022, the now-Washington Commanders settled on their team name after briefly being known as the Washington Football Team. Initially, the organization faced criticism from skeptics who doubted the name would stick. However, it appears that the Commanders name is here to stay, as the team moves forward under the ownership of Josh Harris and his group, who took over from former owner Dan Snyder.
There were popular theories suggesting that Harris might seek to change the name to create a new vision and distance himself from Snyder’s legacy. However, he has effectively turned the Commanders’ fortunes around without changing the name. Selecting Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has significantly altered the trajectory of the organization, culminating in a trip to the NFC Championship Game this season.
Although the Commanders fell short against the more experienced Philadelphia Eagles and missed a Super Bowl appearance, it’s evident that they are no longer the laughing stock of the NFL as they were under Snyder’s ownership. With this newfound success, Josh Harris is taking pride in the Commanders name, which he has helped revitalize.
During his end-of-season press conference on Monday, Harris confirmed that he will not be changing the organization’s name, stating, “I think it’s now being embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff. We’re going with that,” Harris said. As the Commanders build on their first truly great season in nearly three decades, the future looks promising in Washington, which likely contributes to Harris’s pride in the team’s name.
