Commanders Sell ‘Redskins’ Gear They Promised Never To Use Again

The Washington Redskins are back … for a limited time only.The old moniker and logo of the team now known as the Washington Commanders is available on limited-edition products being sold in the team’s online store and at the stadium shop ahead of the Commanders’ season opener on Sept. 13 against the Eagles at Philadelphia. The available merchandise includes t-shirts and jerseys honoring Hall of Fame players Art Monk and Darrell Green and the late Sean Taylor. The surprise throwback shirts and jerseys are raising eyebrows since the team has consistently maintained that it would never reinstate its old identity despite calls from fans, local politicians, and President Trump to resurrect the Redskins label.Washington dropped the Redskins name and logo in 2020 after years of intense public debate and pressure from corporate sponsors and social activists who called the term offensive to Native Americans. The franchise was known as simply the Washington Football Team for two bridge seasons before becoming the Commanders in 2022.A new ownership group headed by Josh Harris that purchased the team from Dan Snyder in 2023 has honored the designer of the old logo, Blackie Wetzel, but remained firm in its intention not to feature it again. That decision earned disdain from some fans and politicians. Mr. Trump went so far as to threaten to impede efforts by the Commanders to build a new stadium at Washington, D.C., if the team didn’t bring back the old name, calling the Commanders a “ridiculous moniker.”The Commanders reportedly are offering the limited-editions products to maintain control of the old name and branding. The team re-emphasized that the old name is not coming back as a brand. “We are required to maintain the marks in commercial usage so that marks remain under franchise control,” the organization told a local CBS reporter.Reportedly, under United States trademark law, if a trademark is not used in commerce for three straight years, it’s presumed abandoned and available for purchase.Despite the explanation, the reaction on social media drew mixed responses. Some understand: “This is why you don’t abandon a brand with billions of dollars worth of name recognition,” one X user posted.While another posted, “If it’s racist, why would you want to own the trademark?”The limited-edition shirts display “Washington Redskins” on the back above the players’ statistics. A t-shirt featuring Mr. Monk has a picture of him in uniform and a huge helmet featuring the old logo. A T-shirt honoring Mr. Taylor simply had “Washington Redskins” written across the back over his number, 21.The throwback merchandise isn’t cheap. Mr. Taylor’s retired No. 21 replica jersey featuring the Redskins name on the front and 75th anniversary patch costs $114.99. An Art Monk t-shirt is listed for $49.99.

Commanders Sell ‘Redskins’ Gear They Promised Never To Use Again

Commanders Sell ‘Redskins’ Gear They Promised Never To Use Again

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