Native American Group Slams NFL's Washington Commanders for 'Inappropriate' New Logo: 'We Are Not Your Mascot'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Apr 17th, 2026, 3:13 pm


A Native American organization has called out the NFL’s Washington Commanders after the team unveiled a new logo featuring a spear.

On Wednesday, the Commanders revealed their new uniforms for the 2026-27 season. Included in the redesign was a helmet featuring an alternate logo on the helmet. The logo featured the letter “w” with a spear going through it — a nod to the Native American theming from when the team went by the Washington Redskins.

In a statement obtained by USA Today, the Association on American Indian Affairs condemned the new logo as “disappointing and inappropriate.” The USA Today report added:

“The Washington Commanders’ decision to update their logo is disappointing and inappropriate to say the least,” the Association on American Indian Affairs said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “It is time to stop repeating this cycle and listen to Native Peoples who have been clear, consistent, and unwavering on this issue: We are not your mascot.”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/media/sports/native-american-group-slams-nfls-washington-commanders-for-inappropriate-new-logo-we-ae-not-your-mascot/

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10:50 AM · Apr 15, 2026

[Sibelius Fan]

1. Why? Why do that after you've already taken any hit from your fans for doing the right thing

and getting rid of the whole Redskins name and branding? Stupid.

It would be like the Cleveland Guardians deciding to add Chief Wahoo’s oversized teeth to their logo.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. White supremacy.

[BidenRocks]

3. With respect,

Quit while you're ahead!

[COL Mustard]

19. This is the Commanders.

The one good thing I'll say about the team is the new ownership group (generally) represents an improvement over the Snyder era, but this seems like a big miss.

And I've never seen the shield before. Where did that come from???

[Princess Turandot]

4. Perhaps it's a cowardly nod to Felonious 47, who has demanded that the team revert to the original name..

or (IIRC) lose their new stadium project or some such thing. Oddly, it took a similar threat in 1961 by then Interior Secretary Stewart Udall and AG Bobby Kennedy to cancel their lease on the D. C. Stadium, unless they hired black players. Their owner for more than 30 years was a Kentucky-born unapologetic racist/segregationist named George Preston Marshall; they were the last NFL team to integrate, in 1962.

(Trump made a similar demand on the Guardians, but I don't think that he has any practical leverage over them. And I get the impression that the team & fans are well settled with the new name.)

[malthaussen]

5. I dunno, last time I looked, Native Americans had no copyright on spears.

It is, of course, a simple weapon used by just about every human culture on Earth at one time or another.

It is also a throwback to the Washington logo of the 60's.

All of which is actually irrelevant, as it is clear to anybody watching that it is a direct attempt to insult Native Americans while preserving a shred of deniability.

-- Mal

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Try swapping out the Boston Celtics logo with this

and see how long that lasts.

[chelsea0011]

7. Well, after that beer they become

the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. But "fighting", not falling down drunk

-which was often the derogatory stereotype about Irish men.



They now have a new logo. I wonder why?



In Notre Dame's new logo, fists are down and football is in

[Polybius]

13. The Irish don't get offended with stuff like that though

The ones in my family would laugh.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. A whole lot did

because it's an old trope that lead to stuff like nick-naming a police van, a "Paddy Wagon".

ETA - (from the NYT (1854: No Irish Need Apply)

?quality=75&auto=webp

[edhopper]

10. Normally I'd agree

and the shield logo looks African. But they also should not do anything to remind people their name was a racist slur and they kept it far too long.

[EX500rider]

16. Does not look like a Native American spear head to me anyway.

As they used stone/flint tips, looks more Bronze age Aegean to me.
Native:

Bronze Age Greek:
?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1

[Bayard]

18. Looks like an arrow to me

Which ever it is, they're still trying to get around the racial label.

[Dr. T]

9. They could rename themselves

the Washington Neanderthals and offend MAGAts instead.

[sop]

11. I thought the matter was settled, and all the diehard Redskins' fans had finally accepted the new name and logo?

Why resurrect this controversy now? Call me a crazy conspiracist, but I suspect Trump had something to do with this.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. "Call me a crazy conspiracist, but I suspect Trump had something to do with this."

Not a conspiracy. Last summer, he threatened to withhold funding from the new stadium unless they change the name back -

Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal if Commanders don't return to old name

[COL Mustard]

20. It's never too early to relitigate...

What seemed to be settled law. Or at least decisions.

[Henry203]

14. They should have kept it the Washington football team

It was a great name.

[manicdem]

17. I don't see an issue with the spear

It looks respectful and its represents the power of the football team.

I can see problems with Redskins or other mascots that go after stereotypes. But not the spear. Does the spear actually represent Native American culture specifically or just spears in general as almost every culture in the world had spears.

[BidenRocks]

21. I see this as more a Roman or Greek era legionnaire weapon.

If you had no knowledge of the 'skins, what would you think?

The spear is AI neutral.

[manicdem]

22. True, looks more like a metal spear

Looks more like a european metal spear for warfare instead of a stone or bone spear.