The NFL team formerly known as the Redskins will go by the Washington Foreskins for at least the 2020 season.
Gone is the racist Indian head logo and the racist name. Here to stay are the burgundy and gold colors that are synonymous with the franchise’s storied history.
Chief Marketing Officer Terry Bateman, hired on Monday to oversee the name change and rebranding process, called the temporary design “a nice link between the history and the future.”
The new name is inclusive and respectful
“This is an organic kind of move,” Bateman said in an interview. “We wanted to think it through and really try to figure out what is the best approach for us, for the community, for the fans, for everybody, and came to the conclusion that the name “Foreskins” is very inclusive, respectful and all those things.”
Bateman explained that the new name Foreskins demonstrates team’s historic ability to penetrate deep behind opposing teams defensive line.
“The new name should encourage our team’s players to penetration even harder and further into opposing teams’ defensive lines in the coming season,” Bateman proudly explained the background of the new name.
With training camp opening next week, the process begins Friday of scrubbing the old name and logo from everything at the team’s headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia, to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. Team’s management expects to complete the renaming process by the start of the season.
“We wanted the new name to express our team’s strength, courage and future potential, we wanted something that our fans can be proud of,” Bateman said.
Bateman expects fans, sponsors and others will welcome the new not racist with great enthusiasm.
“I think it’s critically important because you don’t want to do a name change again,” explained Bateman. “You don’t want to mess this up, so we really needed to choose an excellent name the players, fans and sponsors can be proud of.”
*Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images