The Washington Football Team will officially have a new name this week with the announcement and uniform release scheduled for Wednesday. It’s capping off a multiyear rebranding, which saw much of the fanbase come to embrace the wonderfully generic Football Team name.
But it’s pretty clear that the organization will go in a different direction, and Joe Theismann might have inadvertently spoiled the surprise a couple days too soon.
Just as the potential new name — the Washington Commanders — leaked last week in a domain name transfer, Theismann seemingly confirmed the new name would be the Commanders in a Monday appearance on CBS Sports Radio’s The D.A. Show.
Here's the video
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
Theismann said:
“Yeah. There were so many different options, but once again, it’s trademark infringement, it’s getting approval from different people. If you choose a name, is there a group out there that isn’t going to like it? There’s so many things that you have to consider. Commander, basically, is Washington, D.C. A lot of commanders in Washington, D.C., in the Pentagon and a lot of different branches of the service. So, to me, that’s certainly the way I’m looking at it, as positions of leadership when it comes to the new name.”
Given that Theismann is a Ring of Honor member for the franchise, it would theoretically make sense for him to be included somewhat in the name selection process. But he also had to know that he couldn’t just reveal the name before the announcement.
In follow-up comments, he told the Washington Times that he didn’t know what the actual name would be.
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
Either way, there is plenty of smoke around the Commanders name. And fans had some thoughts on this latest leak.
This was how Twitter reacted
If it's not commanders. This organization deserves an oscar
— Jubs09 ⓦ (@JamesJubane) January 31, 2022
Joe not getting invited back to fedex anytime soon 🤣🤦♂️🤦♂️ https://t.co/XUpK62jT8n
— Andy.Burrows ( THE BRIDGE ) (@washingtonukfan) January 31, 2022
HAHAHAHA. Dan gonna be sick when he finds out the most notable QB in franchise history ruined their name rollout event they have been plugging for MONTHS 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/PX8bcc7DPv
— Ryan Feenick (@rfeen10) January 31, 2022
Well… Can’t get much more clear than this #WashingtonFootball https://t.co/PbFuByk3Gt
— Commanders Post (@CommandersPost) January 31, 2022
We all knew it was the Commanders but Theismann accidentally leaking it before the official announcement is hilarious https://t.co/QQG5Hrfba7
— KSIXI (@KSIXI) January 31, 2022
This dude has always talked too much. While i’m not fond of the name Commanders I would’ve loved to be legitimately surprised on Wednesday. Wtf @Theismann7 https://t.co/StH0r2RbAy
— Bleeding Burgundy & Gold (@BleedinBnG) January 31, 2022
Did Theisman just confirm the name is Commanders? LMAO https://t.co/CdXsM6mowa
— Trey (@TreyyMBDos) January 31, 2022
So Theisman just confirmed the name Washington Commanders which likely caps the month long rumor trickle.
PR 101. Leak X slowly for some time to get all the initial overreactions out of the way, so by the time X is "announced" everyone has already become more comfortable with X. https://t.co/VR1bsZDD8c
— Hines (@HinesmanTrophy) January 31, 2022
I guess Groundhog Day came early this year. https://t.co/MyFjQ6QZm9
— Tae & Todd Washington Football Podcast (@TaeNToddPodcast) January 31, 2022
If this is all a smokescreen, though, then it’s really been quite the performance. We’ll know for sure on Wednesday.
