Breaking down the situation surrounding the Redskins name

How should Redskins fans feel about changing the name?

We can talk and argue all day about whether the name change is warranted or not, but the fact of the matter is, the business partners of the Redskins are long past that discussion. They’ve levied the judgement that they can no longer financially support a franchise with the Redskins’ name, and thus, we have to address the reality of a potential change, and what it might entail.

The subjects which a name change entails number in the dozens, but one question stands out at the moment, as it pertains to the franchise’s very audience: How should Redskins fans feel about changing the name?

There’s no one specific answer to this question. Feelings will vary from person to person. A younger fan who’s grown up in the twenty-first century certainly isn’t going to feel the same way that a fan who grew up in the 1980’s is going to feel.

With the Redskins specifically, much of the appeal comes in their illustrious history. They’re one of the oldest franchises. They won three Super Bowls in the span of a decade in the late twentieth century, featuring a dynamic ensemble that included Joe Gibbs, Joe Bugel, the Hogs, the Posse, Mark Rypien, Doug Williams, John Riggins, and Darrell Green, among many others.

It’s a tough ask, to expect a fan base rooted in this success, to suddenly see its representative badge vanish. And just as we should show empathy toward those unseen people who may be offended by the name, we also have to show empathy for those who’ve fostered an emotional connection to the team’s mascot over the years.

I don’t have a strong opinion either way; as I’ve said recently, I’m not in a position to be personally offended by the name, but as a white male, I can’t let my limited life perception block out other viewpoints and experiences that are currently inaccessible to me. There’s only so much any of us can know, experience, and control, and the name discussion has proven that statement to be true in its entirety.

In my opinion — and again, I don’t expect others to feel the same way — I think a name change could be a good thing, just from a football perspective. The Redskins made a monumental transition at the start of the decade, moving on from Bruce Allen and hiring Ron Rivera. For the first time in a long time, things are looking up for the franchise on the field. And the name change may be an opportunity to double down on that strong change of direction, and officially move into a new era of Washington football, one that no longer clings to past successes while wallowing in modern mediocrity, using the past as a crutch to maintain relevance.

I think there’s a way for the past to be respected, while following a new path for the future, in respect of those who want change. It’s never going to be an easy discussion to have, but with the dominos starting to fall on Dan Snyder’s table, it’s a discussion we may no longer be able to avoid.