The Washington Commanders dropped the racist slur "redskins" from its name and retired a controversial logo after protests against racial justice erupted across the country in the summer of 2020.
However, some people are now under the impression that the team is bringing back the old logo, which features the profile of a Native man with long hair and two feathers.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week approved advancing legislation funding the revitalization of the decrepit RFK stadium site.
Montana Senator Steve Daines had said he would block the legislation until the NFL and Commanders honor the old logo in some way.
Daines said he was now in favor of the bill because the Native American family credited with designing the old logo was satisfied with the team's efforts to honor Walter "Blackie" Wetzel, the family's patriarch, The Washington Post reported.
Daines told Fox News after the vote that talks were underway about allowing the old logo to used again.
"We've had good discussions with the NFL and with the Commanders," he said. "There's good-faith negotiations going forward that's going to allow this logo to be used again; perhaps revenues going to a foundation that could help Native Americans in sport and so forth. We're making good progress, and based on the good-faith negotiations, I made the decision support this bill."
Newsweek has contacted Daines and the Commanders for comment via email.
Daines added on X, formerly Twitter, that censorship of the old logo "was a case of woke gone wrong."
He wrote: "I applaud the @Commanders & the @NFL for their commitment to never censor the logo again & for working with the Wetzel family to restore it to a place of prominence and honor to benefit Indian Country."
His comments led some to believe the Commanders would be return to its former name and use the old logo.
"The Washington Commanders are planning to change their name back to the Redskins," one X user with more than 400,000 followers wrote.
Another person commented: "Washington Commanders agree To 'Un-Cancel' classic Redskins logo. Washington Redskins are back!"
Some fans have even urged President-elect Donald Trump to change the team's name back when he returns to office.
But changing the team's name back or using the old logo on the current team's uniform isn't being discussed, the Post reported.
However, representatives for the team and NFL have assured the Wetzel family that it will not edit out the old logo from throwback merchandise.
They visited the family in Montana in September and hosted them in Maryland to unveil a memorial honoring Wetzel, the newspaper reported. There have also been discussions about creating a foundation to support Native American causes.
Commanders owner Josh Harris has said that the team will not return to its old name.
"We've been very clear … for obvious reasons, the old name can't come back," he said in August. "The first objective is we got to start winning football games, and we need everyone supporting the team and not things that might, you know, drive people apart."
English (US) ·