The new name is here, and the overall consensus is … bleh.
Washington officially announced its new nickname — Commanders — on Wednesday morning, and most of the reaction from fans online is that the name is “mediocre,” “predictable” and “boring.”
“Strong name for a mediocre team.”
“Predictable outcome from a risk-averse team.”
“Commanders is just so deeply boring and corny.”
New name, new marks pic.twitter.com/KxN5pWg4X1
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 2, 2022
Washington coach Ron Rivera said on the “TODAY Show” that this represents a “new chapter” for the organization.
“It’s about turning the page to a new chapter,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of unfortunate things that have happened. But as we go forward, what I’m trying to do is, hey, buy into judging us now and where we’re headed as opposed to where we’ve been.”
But, for some, this rebrand is exactly what has made the Washington Redskins, the Washington Football Team and now the Washington Commanders one of the worst franchises in the NFL since owner Dan Snyder took over.
“There is nothing about this process that gave the fans any hope of a new direction for the franchise,” tweeted Team 980’s Reese Waters.
“Commanders isn’t horrible but also isn’t cool, and for my expectations of Snyder and the Team Formerly Known As Washington Football, that’s honestly above the bar,” The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak posted.
PHOTOS: Washington Commanders team name and logo reveal
But it wasn’t all negative.
All fans will have different opinions, but the reaction to the team’s new uniforms, which feature a sleek design with burgundy, white and black iterations, had at least some positive reviews.
New uniforms pic.twitter.com/zad6ZTyVdx
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) February 2, 2022
“Jerseys look great, just gonna take some time to get used to the Commanders,” wrote one fan on Twitter.
And, of course, with anything online — or anything regarding Washington’s football team — the rebrand was filled with jokes.
“Tom Brady has never beaten the Washington Commanders and never will,” tweeted one fan.
The most popular meme thus far, which may not be a joke moving forward if it catches on, is that the shortened version of Commanders should be “Commies.”
“They clearly didn’t think this through,” wrote one Twitter user. “They have to have known this will become the ‘Washington Commies’ at lightning speed.”
let’s not focus on whether the Washington Commanders is a good name but instead focus on the fact a red and yellow team located in Washington DC named itself something that can be shortened to Commies
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) February 2, 2022
focus on the hilarious aspect of NO ONE realizing this over 2 years pic.twitter.com/b1b5pCcYiC
“Rebranding is always gonna be tough and I think ‘The Washington Commanders’ is a good name,” wrote Pat McAfee on Twitter. “Now of course..They’re gonna be called The Commies.. they’re red.. in the Nation’s capital but nonetheless.. Commanders is a good name.”
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