The Washington Football Team is set to announce their new name on February 2 and there has been a lot of speculation in the days leading up to that.
While early rumors about the Washington Admirals appear to have gone nowhere, and the Washington Groundhogs might make sense given the day of the announcement, the smart money seems to be on Washington Commanders. There have been some subtle clues and not-so-subtle reactions to the possible name.
Joe Theismann, who works as a broadcaster for Washington Football Team preseason games, sat down for an interview with Damon Amendolora of CBS Sports on Monday and all but appeared to confirm that the new name will be Commanders.
Joe Theisman believes Washington football fans will embrace the new name coming on Wednesday: The Commanders. pic.twitter.com/itHSZQqnX3
— Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) January 31, 2022
“I think the Commanders is a name that is going to be one that hopefully people like going forward,” said Theismann.
“So you like the Commanders as the new team name huh?” asked Amendolora.
“Ya, I mean there were so many different options, but once again it’s trademark infringement,” said Theismann. “It’s getting approval from different people. If you choose a name, is there a group out there that’s not going to like it? I mean, there’s so many things that you have to consider. Commander — basically it’s Washington D.C. A lot of commanders in Washington D.C. and the Pentagon, and a lot of different branches of the service. So that’s the way I’m looking at it, as positions of leadership when it comes to the new name.”
That is probably not how Dan Snyder and the WFT brass wanted that name to be confirmed by someone close to the organization, assuming that Theismann does indeed know that the name has been selected and isn’t himself just assuming.
With the cat (or commander) out of the bag, there were some fun reactions about it as well as how it probably has Synder pulling his hair out.
Joe Theismann is the only human being on this earth that can’t keep a 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 secret. https://t.co/MxMUIRYY7L
— Olafimihan Oshin (@olafimihanoshin) January 31, 2022
So Joe Theismann just spilled the beans on this, right?
Commanders it is. https://t.co/W3l8uOuel3
— Jordan Loupe (@CantALoupe_FF) January 31, 2022
Theisman did text Washington Times reporter Matthew Paras afterward to say that he is “not completely sure what the new name. No one has told me. Like you, I’ll find out on Wednesday.” So we’ll see.
Just got this text from Joe Theismann: "Not completely sure what the new name. No one has told me. Like you I’ll find out on Wednesday."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 31, 2022
