The NFL team formerly known as the Redskins set an expiration date for the interim franchise name — the Washington Football Team — of Feb. 2.
Under the direction of a restructured front office and team president, the rebranding of the franchise owned by Daniel Snyder took more than 18 months.
The 2021 season is the second for the Washington Football Team moniker.
The franchise plans to reveal hints and uniform teasers leading up to the announcement in February. President Jason Wright gave the first spoiler Tuesday, saying the franchise will not be choosing Wolves or RedWolves as the team name due to copyright concerns.
“We can finally say that we are in the homestretch of our rebrand journey. We know this has been a long process — one with a lot of pieces and details — and we appreciate you sticking with us,” Wright said in a written statement. “First, and I’ll cut to the chase here, we can confirm that, after careful consideration, our team name will not be Wolves or RedWolves.
“Understanding the weight and importance of our team name, and excitement around other name options — both internally and within our fan base — we didn’t want to risk going down a route that could be dotted with legal hurdles.
“What comes next is exciting and fast-approaching — and here’s my second update: we can’t wait to reveal our team name to the world on Feb. 2, 2022! Mark your calendars, Washington Family. This is not a day you’ll want to miss!”
The franchise began using the Redskins nickname in 1933, when it was based in Boston and previously called the Braves. The name was dropped in July 2020 after multiple sponsors sent Snyder letters threatening to remove signage and end financial agreements, including the stadium naming rights deal with FedEx, unless the team retired the name.
–Field Level Media