If Washington decides to change the name of the franchise, Dwayne Haskins will become the quarterback to usher in the organization’s new era. Haskins didn’t offer much regarding the name change, but he has one of the first candidates for a new name.
As CBS Sports colleague Jared Dubin pointed out in his list of possible team names for Washington, the Redtails won a design contest a few years ago and appears to be the leader in the club among fans. The Redtails have an intriguing story behind the name, a tribute to the planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first black military aviators to serve in the United States Army during World War II.
Three of the first five admitted airmen were from Washington, serving as a connection to the city and the military. Some NFL team names like their city’s history (the Pittsburgh Steelers are an example), and the name Redtails could resonate with Washington if the franchise decides to make a change.
Washington has compiled a list of actions that indicate there could be a name change in the past month. The team removed the statue of former owner George Preston Marshall from the outside of the RFK stadium and removed his name from all official team material. The team also removed Marshall’s name from the bottom bowl at FedEx Field and decides to honor Bobby Mitchell, the franchise’s first black player, by withdrawing his number and renaming the bowl after him.
After a group of corporations (including Nike, FedEx, and PepsiCo) whose investors petitioned to end their relations with Washington unless the team changes its name. The franchise released a statement the next day that “they will undergo a thorough review of the team’s name. This review formalizes the initial discussions the team has had with the league in recent weeks.”
Haskins may not have much (if any) to say about what the franchise’s new name should be, but the Redtails nickname is gaining a lot of momentum in the area. It looks like there will be a change soon.
