Washington Commanders managing partner Josh Harris and the NFL Commanders ownership group have agreed to un-cancel the Redskins (the iconic Blackfoot chief logo) history.
In a post on Facebook by Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines, the Congressman wrote that “The censorship of the former Commanders logo was a classic case of woke gone wrong. I applaud the Commanders & the NFL for their commitment to never censor the logo again.”
“And for working with the [Walter ‘Blackie’] Wetzel family to restore the logo to a place of prominence and honor to benefit Indian Country,” he added mentioning the “Native American artist who used Blackfoot chief John Two Guns White Calf as the inspiration for the logo the NFL team used for almost 50 years.”
In 2020, the team announced it was removing Redskins from its name and two years later announced the national professional football team would be called the Washington Commanders.
The name change came about from pressure from the cancel culture mob following the death of George Floyd and those who claimed that the term was racist and offensive to Native Americans.
🚨BREAKING: IT APPEARS DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY ABOUT THE #COMMANDERS POTENTIALLY USING THE REDSKINS’ OLD LOGO.
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Senator Steve Daines says that the proceeds would go to help benefit the tribe.
Washington fans have been pushing for this to happen…pic.twitter.com/bHTbGVLZWV
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 22, 2024
Speaking to Fox News, Daines called out the “irony” that the woke mob was “canceling Native American culture, as in the DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] movement went way too far.”
Earlier this year, a local D.C. news station came under fire when it was revealed that it was blurring or removing the logo in archival footage and photographs of the team, Tampa Free Press noted. And in February, the NFL censored the logo on its X account when honoring previous Super Bowl winners, Daines noted during his remarks on the Senate floor. He also pointed out that the team had been selling a shirt that also blocked the logo.
Daines has said he would approve legislation for the building of a new stadium for the Commanders, as long as the team agreed to never censor the logo again or degrade it. That includes the team using the logo again in some shape or form, ie. in historical images, videos, merchandise, even using the logo if the team should want to use it throwback game jersey, etc., the Bozeman Daily Chronicle noted.
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Un-erasing the logo would also mean that if Wetzel wanted to use the logo in a throwback uniform, or something created to be posted in the stadium, etc. he could, Fox News noted.
Wetzel’s grandson Ryan Wetzel said that he feels good that a plan will come about to honor his grandfather’s legacy, the Daily Montanan reported.
“It’s exciting to even have that conversation after they said it (the logo) would be gone forever,” Wetzel said.
Following what the Senator called good faith talks with the league, he was “proud to say, after speaking with my constituents, that they are satisfied with the ongoing negotiations with the team and feel optimistic about the direction that they are heading. Therefore, I will support the bill and vote in favor of its passage out of committee with the condition that the team follows through on the commitments made to the family.”