1. Washington Warriors
The name ‘Warriors’ looks like the leader in the clubhouse for a Redskins’ name change, even though the Native American connotation would remain.
Upon buying the Redskins back in 1999, Daniel Snyder trademarked the name “Washington Warriors.” He had hoped to bring an Arena Football League team to the area and use the name, but that dream completely died when the AFL folded in 2009. The trademark included an arrow and feather logo, which the Redskins have used a rendition of.
As the controversy over the Redskins’ name has ebbed and flowed over the years, Warriors has seemed like a solid backup option, if nothing else. And now, the flow of controversy regarding the team’s name shows no signs of stopping from all corners until it’s changed. Snyder will have to drive the idea of a change, whether he wants to or not or whether the NFL pushes for it or not. Otherwise, right or wrong, business will get bad for the Redskins in short order as sponsors bail and any notion of a new stadium on the RFK Stadium site remains a non-starter.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen it, but the template for the Washington Warriors with a spear and feather logo has been laid. With the appeal of some nostalgia to go with a pivot to a powerful, noble nickname, we should probably get ready for the Washington Warriors.