The Nameless Football Team: Rebranding Washington’s Football Team

In 2020, after decades of mounting pressure and millions of dollars on the line, Washington decided to cast away its old moniker to enter the 2020-2021 NFL season essentially nameless. For years, the organization sparked controversy—not due to its players or coaches, but solely due to its name. Its previous title, the Redskins, bears the namesake of a word generally recognized as a slur directed at Native Americans. Previously, the organization remained adamant about keeping its name, but with the potential of major corporate sponsors pulling their sponsorships, the administration caved. Now, fans will call them "The Washington Football Team" until the franchise settles upon a permanent name. What should Washington’s football team be called? To detach it from its derogatory namesake, the organization should rebrand the team as The Washington Monuments to reflect the city's history and importance.

To start, the name the Washington Monuments backs away from any previous controversy without entering into a new one. As previously stated, the word redskins is a slur. The newly proposed name would not offend a specific group. Especially given current climates, a neutral name will cause people to look more favorably upon the franchise.

Moreover, the name reflects a physical component of the city as well as its history. Washington DC stands at the center of American democracy. Thus, it is fundamentally attached to U.S. history. In the city, to commemorate and detail that attachment, countless monuments exist. Therefore, the name illustrates a non-obscure component and pays homage to its city. Comparatively, the current title solely functions to define the organization. In essence, Washington DC made a name for itself in American history. It is not to be represented by something considered nameless.