The American football team, the Washington Commanders, are known for their Super Bowl victories and winning seasons. They’ve been on the field since 1932 and have significantly impacted NFL history.
However, besides their victories, Washington Commander players are known for two things; their name changed from the Washington Redskins and the stylish logo that represents the team.
But does the emblem have as interesting of a history as the team itself? How did it get to the point that we see today?
Let’s take a look at the history of the Washing Commanders logo.
1932––1933: The First Logo
The first logo for the Washington Commanders football team was introduced in 1932 and stayed with the team for only a year.
This logo featured the head of a Native American man with the profile facing to the left. The image was shown in red on a white background. The man wore a large feather headpiece and was the center of the design, with nothing else on the logo.
1933––1936: A Logo Change
The first logo only lasted mere months before the team decided it was time for another change. Although the colors changed, the main concept of the logo did not. The new logo depicted a Native American man, this time with his profile facing toward the right and inside a black and gold circle. The man only had one feather in his hair instead of an entire headpiece. His hair was braided, and the new color palette was gold, black, and white.
1937––1951: A New Color Palette
In 1937, the team opted for a new design, this time keeping the same elements of the previous design and instead making a few changes. They changed the color palette, this time giving the Native American man a dark brown skin tone and contouring his face to look almost animated. The profile was now over the circle, and the colors were cooler. The design looked more digital and animated than past designs.
1952––1959: Another Change
The previous design stayed with the team for 14 years before they opted for another change, this time adding gradient lights to the man’s face and refining elements to make it more realistic. The feathers changed to yellow and red, and the circle was removed. Now, the man’s face was just on a white background, and it looked more realistic.
1960––1964: A Simpler Design
After seven years with the previous design, the team changed their logo again. They still kept the Native American man as the face of their design, but this time, they cleaned it up and made it simpler.
The color palette was simplified to a red-and-white option, and the circle was brought back. This time it showed the man’s face outlined in red and the back of the circle in red. The outer edge of the circle was also shown in red, and the entire design was displayed on a white background.
1965––1969: A Complete Redesign
1965 marked the year when the team completely redesigned their logo and removed the previous Native American man’s profile they had used. This time, a new element was introduced: a gold and white arrow shooting toward the right. A sharp triangular arrowhead was shown with half white and half gold. A feather was shown coming off the arrow’s side, also in white and gold. The arrow had a thin black outline around it and a white background that it stood out against.
1970––1971: The Circle is Added Back
Five years later, the color scheme and design were changed once again. However, the team still kept the theme of incorporating feathers into their design.
This time, the logo showed a circle with a capital “R” in the center and two feathers to the left hanging off of the circle.
The entire design was shown in burgundy red on a white background. This design was simplistic and minimalist.
1972––2020: Change in Color and Design
In 1972, the team decided to bring back the Native American man. This time, they placed a modern and detailed version of the head inside of the circle from the previous design. The color scheme was changed to make the circle gold and the feathers white and gold. The feathers were also enlarged, making them slightly more significant than the circle. The man also had two black and white feathers in his hair, and his face was detailed with contours and shading. It is important to note that for one year in 1983, the Washington Commanders used a version of the logo that showed the design flipped to the left. However, after this year, they went back to the original logo.
2020––2021: New Name, New Logo
In 2020, the team’s name was officially changed from the Washington Redskins to the Washinton Football Team. With the new name, the team decided it was time for a new logo, this time introducing a more minimal design. It simply featured a large, yellow “W” on a burgundy background. The “W” was shown in dark yellow and contrasted well with the burgundy background. This design clearly showed that the brand was leaving its previous name behind and moving forward with the remake.
2020––Present: The Logo Today
The logo today features a large “W” in a dark burgundy color and outlined in a dark yellow. The design stood out on a background of burgundy and dark red shades.
The letter boldly stood out and showed the design as sleek and modern. This is the logo that is now associated with the team and what is proudly shown on Washington Commander’s uniforms.
The Washington Commanders Name Change
The franchise was officially renamed to The Washington Commanders on February 2, 2022. This was after a 19-month period where the franchise was simply known as the Washinton Football team.
The team was originally founded as the Boston Braves, and then after moving to a new city, they became infamously referred to as the Washington Redskins.
However, during the 1960s, there was criticism from Native Americans. Many believed the name “Redskins” to be derogatory and thought the logo, a Native American wearing a headdress, was inappropriate. However, the name wasn’t changed.
Despite the repercussions, Dan Snyder, who owned the team from 1999 to April 2023, refused to change the name. There were even lawsuits filed against the franchise, adamantly proclaiming that the name and logo clearly promoted systemic racism.
The name continued to spark controversy and the team faced repercussions. Sponsors threatened to pull their deals from the team if they didn’t change the name and Nike removed Redskins gear from their stores.
It wasn’t until George Floyd’s death in July 2020 that the team’s name became a broader issue once again. Nike and Pepsi now threatened to withdraw their financial support, and FedEx, which the team’s franchise was named after, also proclaimed they wanted the name to change.
Finally, the pressure was too significant, and Snyder agreed to a name change. They removed the name that they’d used for 87 years and became temporarily known as the “Washington Football Team (WFT).” In February of 2022, the name was changed to the Washington Commanders; this is how they have been known since then.
Conclusion
The Washington Commanders’ logo history is a fascinating journey that mirrors the evolution of the team and the societal changes surrounding it.
From its early depictions of Native American imagery to its current minimalist and modern design, each logo tells a story of adaptation and transformation. The shift from intricate, controversial designs to the bold simplicity of the “W” reflects not only the team’s desire for a fresh start but also a broader commitment to aligning with modern values of inclusivity and respect.
Today, the Commanders’ logo represents more than just a sports franchise; it symbolizes a new era for the team and its fans.
While honoring their rich history and legacy, the franchise has embraced change to move forward, both on and off the field. The sleek design of the current logo stands as a bold statement of renewal, resilience, and unity, paving the way for a future that respects the past while embracing progress.
Check out these awesome Logo Contests run on Hatchwise:
