For the Washington Commanders, the NFL Draft isn't the only date being circled on the calendar this month.
On April 15, the team will unveil its new uniforms for the 2026 season and beyond. These are expected to be similar to the "Super Bowl Era" colors they adorned in four home games during the previous campaign.
In Washington, the team's branding has been a lightning rod of controversy for decades. No matter who you ask, they're not going to budge, and even a compromise isn't going to make most people happy. But Josh Harris and company might have done the best they could.
Commanders fans can't overlook the bigger picture with rumored uniform change
If the majority owner's words are to be trusted, the Commanders will "honor the past and look to the future." And it's time that we all get behind their vision.
Prior to Washington's rebrand in 2020, you couldn't go a day without hearing someone complain about how the team's name was offensive. Now, you can't go a day without someone demanding that they restore it. All of this senseless bickering has gotten so beyond tiresome.
"Commanders" is a perfectly fine team name. A commander is a strong person, someone who commands respect. It suits the city in which the President of the United States resides. It's not like they're called the Washington Silly Nannies.
The name is here to stay, we understand that. However, the team returning to its inconic uniform was something that absolutely had to happen. pic.twitter.com/i9Nn0cebHR
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) April 6, 2026
The only reason anybody has an issue with the name — and make no mistake, it is the only reason — is because of the history attached to the former one. While that's perfectly understandable, it's also close-minded to think the Commanders can't create their own legacy.
We saw a glimpse of it in 2024. When the team was winning, nobody cared what it was called. If anything, it was a breath of fresh air, given that the old branding for its final 25 years was associated with dysfunction and humiliation.
If there can be more seasons like that one ahead, it will only continue to build the Commanders' identity into one D.C. can own with pride once again.
That said, it is still worth honoring the iconic burgundy and gold look that has defined Washington football for generations. The alternate uniforms last year were a resounding success. Evidently, they were enough to sway Harris into making them full-time, perhaps with a few tweaks.
It's as good a middle-ground as you're going to get, so let's all accept it like grown-ups and move forward for once and for all.
We have a football team to support.