As much fun as football fans have had laughing every time a Sunday matchup is previewed as "the Eagles against the Football Team", the franchise down in Washington D.C. is unlikely to keep the nondescript Washington Football Team name forever. They want a brand for fans to identify with, and "Football Team" isn't cutting it.
What that next name will be has been a mystery since the organization announced it was abandoning its previous insensitive moniker in July 2020, but we now know officially the final eight options for a team the Eagles will play twice a year.
Washington Football Team Co-CEO Tanya Snyder joined ESPN's Adam Schefter on Schefter's podcast to discuss all things WFT before the 2021 season begins, and Schefter of course steered the conversation towards the name proceedings:
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"SNYDER: We are down to three.
"SCHEFTER: Can we say the three that we are down to?
"SNYDER: No!
"SCHEFTER: I heard eight. I heard...
- Armada
- Presidents
- Brigade
- Redhawks
- Commanders
- Redwolves
- Defenders
- WFT
I think those are the candidates, right?
NFL
"SNYDER: Yes."
There we have it! Those are the eight options they liked, and out of those eight Snyder said they've already worked the choices down to a final three.
Honestly? They're... not great. Not awful, but not great.
Half of them I can't see happening. Washington Presidents is just brutal. Washington Commanders feels like a fake B-movie team. Washington Defenders would be silly considering defenders is also a group of players on the team. And sticking with Football Team would be a true upset.
Between the two non-plural options, I think I like Armada better than Brigade. And out of the two Red options Redhawks is a slightly cooler option than Redwolves, but I really like either one there. The Redhawks and the Redwolves have been far and away the best options the entire time, because they actually have some character. Please choose one of those.
WFT has said it'll use the new name in 2022, so we'll get a resolution likely after the season ends and before the draft. Circle March on your calendars, if you'd like, and get ready for a new face in the NFC East.
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