Washington Redskins Logo to Enjoy a Limited Return with Team

When you're so woke that a logo of a Blackfeet chief drawn by a Blackfeet
artist and approved by the Blackfeet Nation is considered offensive to white
people...

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Family of Blackfeet chief who inspired Redskins logo wants it back.

Relatives of the man John Two Guns White Calf, whose profile served as the
face of the Washington, D.C., professional football team for 48 years, wants
his likeness returned to the franchise.

Thomas White Calf, a great nephew of the late Blackfeet Nation chief, told Fox
News, "The fans want him back and we want him back."

The team changed its name in 2020 following complaints over the name
"Redskins", which has historically held a negative connotation for indigenous
peoples in North America.

"Our ancestor was the most famous and most photographed native in history,"
Thomas said in the interview. "Two Guns was also the face on the Indian head
nickel. I'm proud of him. The Blackfeet are proud of him."

The original logo was designed by a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana
in the early '70s, causing some to take pride in not only the depiction but
the man who helped design it-- Walter "Blackie" Wetzel, a former Blackfeet
Nation tribal chairman and former president of the National Congress of the
American Indian, the country's oldest Native American and Alaska Native
advocacy organization.

Thomas' comments come after a meeting with Sen. Steve Daines, R-MT, according
to Fox. In July, Daines blocked funding for an improved stadium for the team--
unless the logo is honored in some form.

Thomas and Daines aren't alone in their call. In 2023, the Native American
Guardians Association created an online petition advocating for a return to
the name and logo as a way to honor "the bravery, resilience, and warrior
spirit associated with Native American culture". For many others, the name is
a painful reminder of racism, oppression and colonization, with the recent
change coming as a small victory for modern-day representation.

However, it looks like the Washington Commanders are going to stay the
Washington Commanders.

Back in June, new team owner Josh Harris left the door open for a possible
reversion to their original name at some point down the road, but after a
successful season that saw the franchise get to the NFC Championship for the
first time in 33 years, it seems that the Commanders name has suddenly started
to grow on Harris.

During a press conference on Monday, Harris was asked if it the Commanders
name is here to stay and he didn't hesitate with his answer.

"Yes," Harris said via NBC 4 in Washington. "I think it's now being embraced
by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff and so we're going to stay
with that."

While the name will not change, the team has, however, started selling
merchandise with the franchise's old Two Guns profile logo on it, Front Office
Sports reported in December. This currently appears to be limited to certain
situations celebrating the history of the franchise but could expand in the
future.