The Washington Redskins name and logo, which the NFL team in the capital city abandoned in 2020, have resurfaced in the team’s merchandise shop. This gear, while rare, is part of a throwback line by Mitchell & Ness, featuring T-shirts and jerseys of former players from the Redskins era.
Fans can visit the team’s store at Northwest Stadium or shop online for items like an Art Monk T-shirt. This shirt showcases the Pro Football Hall of Famer in his Redskins uniform and helmet. Back of the T-shirt highlights ‘Washington Redskins’ along with Monk’s career stats and achievements, priced at $49.99.
Similarly, a Sean Taylor T-shirt features the likeness of the safety in his Redskins gear. Taylor’s tragic death occurred in 2007, and his No. 21 jersey, complete with Redskins branding and a 75th-anniversary patch, sells for $114.99. These items, under the Commanders’ branding strategy, still bear Redskins logos and scripts.
Despite the current name being Washington Commanders, the franchise is marketing these products with old Redskins branding. The jersey is marketed as a Sean Taylor Black Washington Commanders Retired Player Name & Number Mesh Top, even though the Commanders name is absent from the jersey.
The history of the franchise, from 1937 to 2019 as the Washington Redskins, contributes to the ongoing debate about the name’s offensiveness. The team’s new owner, Josh Harris, acknowledged in September 2023 that some fans felt disrespected by the old name.
Commercial sale of Redskins merchandise aims to maintain trademark rights under the Lanham Act, which requires trademarks to be actively used in trade. Failure to use a trademark for three consecutive years can lead to abandonment claims.
There are differing opinions within Native American groups regarding the Redskins nickname. While some groups find it racist, others, including leaders from Native American organizations, have supported retaining the old name and logo. Notably, Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, a former Blackfeet Tribe chairman, influenced the logo change in 1972 to feature a Native chief portrait.
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