After the conclusion of the 2023 NFL season, the Washington Commanders bid farewell to coach Ron Rivera, who served for four years.
Throughout Rivera’s tenure, the team never managed to secure more than eight victories and only made it to the playoffs once, following the 7-9 season in 2020.
In hopes of revitalizing the organization’s fortunes, the Commanders appointed former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to take over for Rivera.
Quinn, who previously served as head coach in Atlanta from 2015 to 2020, led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots.
During a press event on Saturday, Quinn was seen sporting a Commanders t-shirt, which notably featured a feather symbol reminiscent of the team’s former name, Redskins.
Interesting shirt … pic.twitter.com/SMutHEMQhI
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 11, 2024
Dan Snyder, the former team owner, initiated the name change in 2020. The team briefly operated under the name “Washington Football Team” before adopting “Commanders” in 2022.
For decades, various groups of Native American tribes advocated for a name change, considering the term “Redskin” offensive. Originally based in Boston, the organization adopted the name Redskins in the 1930s. After relocating to Washington in 1937, they retained the name for many years. By 2020, mounting public pressure, as well as pressure from major sponsors like FedEx and Nike, prompted the transition to the Washington Football Team.
Two years later, Snyder presented seven options for the team’s new name, with “Commanders” emerging as the preferred choice.
Concerning Quinn’s shirt, numerous news outlets have reported that it is not an officially sanctioned team item, leading many to speculate that the coach obtained it elsewhere.
