The Cowboys and Redskins have been bitter enemies from the very beginning. The storied rivalry has produced some of the most memorable moments in league history. Some of the sport’s most recognizable names have taken part in the Dallas-Washington grudge match over the past 59 years, with caricaturish Cowboys-versus-Indians imagery spilling over into the collective consciousness of NFL fans for just as long.
But time marches on, sensitivities evolve, and the Cowboys’ oldest rival is getting a brand new name. The Washington franchise announced on Monday that the organization is officially retiring the Redskins name and logo.
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) July 13, 2020
The team began in 1932 as the Boston Braves. The name was changed the following year to “Redskins” and remained with the club when they relocated to the nation’s capital in 1937.
The team had resisted previous pressure- dating back may years- to change the racially offensive name. Owner Daniel Snyder insisted that most Native Americans were not offended by the team moniker, and even famously issued the following promise in 2013:
“We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”
But in the wake of 2020’s powerful and broad sweeping racial justice movement, several sponsors and advertisers publicly called on Snyder to make a long-overdue change. Nike pulling team gear from its online catalogs and FedEx, the naming sponsor of the team’s home stadium, demanding a new name were among the final straws.
The 87-year-old name did not survive the ten-day review announced on July 3.
As stated in the press release, the new name for the team is forthcoming. Whether that’s because the team hasn’t chosen a name or simply hasn’t secured the rights to the name they’ve chosen is unknown at the time of this writing. ProFootballTalk featured a look at one trademark squatter who has secured the rights to a handful of prospective names that Washington may be investigating.
The Cowboys lead the all-time series with the Redskins, 73-45-2. But the rivalry between the clubs dates back to before Dallas even officially had a team.
As a Dallas NFL franchise was being considered, Washington’s then-owner, George Marshall, wanted to block the league from coming to Texas. His was geographically the closest team to most of the Southern United States, and he was reluctant to allow a new team to sway fans in that part of the country.
But Clint Murchison, owner of the would-be Dallas club, had covertly purchased the rights to “Hail to the Redskins,” the fight song traditionally played at Washington home games (and written in part by Marshall’s wife). Murchison offered to give the rights back to Marshall in exchange for his vote approving his expansion club.
And so the most famous rivalry in pro football was born, even before the Dallas team had a name.
Now it will continue with the Washington team playing under a new one.
See what our own K.D. Drummond had to say about how Snyder and the Washington organization has already managed to foul up their handling of a new name in the latest Morning Minute edition of Catch This Fade.
[vertical-gallery id=629307]
[vertical-gallery id=649716]
[vertical-gallery id=633628]
[lawrence-newsletter]