WASHINGTON – The Washington Commanders’ decision to introduce “Super Bowl Era” alternate uniforms has reopened a deeply divisive conversation about the team’s identity, connecting its celebrated past with a contentious present involving its name and a potential new stadium.
The team unveiled the new look on July 9, a design meant to honor the franchise’s three Super Bowl victories in the 1980s and early 1990s. The uniforms feature white jerseys with burgundy numbers outlined in gold, paired with burgundy pants and striped socks.
“These uniforms honor the most successful era of our franchise,” Commanders President Mark Clouse said in the announcement.
The team is scheduled to wear the alternate uniforms for three home games: Nov. 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, Nov. 30 against the Denver Broncos, and on Dec. 25 against the Dallas Cowboys.
A Divided Response on Team’s Name
The throwback design, which closely resembles the uniforms worn when the team was called the Redskins, has reignited the naming debate, highlighting a stark disagreement among Native American groups.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing tribal governments, has long campaigned for the retirement of the name, describing it as a racial slur rooted in historical violence. The NCAI supported the team’s 2020 decision to change its name and continues to oppose any effort to reinstate it, emphasizing the need to end harmful stereotypes in sports.
In contrast, the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), a smaller organization, is actively campaigning to restore the former name. The group filed a lawsuit in 2023 and argues the name honors Native American warrior history, framing its removal as cultural erasure.
Stadium Politics and Renewed Speculation
The debate has been amplified by recent political developments. President Donald Trump recently stated he would not have changed the name and suggested a potential federal workaround to advance the team’s stalled effort to build a new stadium at the former RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C.
This convergence has led to speculation that the team may be testing the waters for a reversal. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said the uniforms are a clear signal.
“It looks just like the former team uniforms,” Florio said in a July 14 segment, suggesting the organization is “tiptoeing” back toward its former identity. He speculated a full name change could be tied to a new stadium opening, saying, “maybe they do it in line with opening the new stadium.”
Despite the speculation, majority owner Josh Harris has publicly maintained the team will remain the Commanders.
How to Follow the Team
The Commanders will debut the throwback uniforms in November. Fans can follow every game live on WFIR 107.3 FM, 94.5 FM in Botetourt, and 960 AM.
Officially licensed jerseys will be available for purchase in early September on the team’s official website and other NFL retail sites.
A Franchise at a Crossroads
While honoring its championship legacy, the franchise finds itself at a pivotal moment. The intertwined issues of its name and a new stadium appear to be shaping the team’s path, leaving fans and stakeholders to wonder which parts of the past will define its future.
