After the name change, Washington’s NFL team struggled to build an identity. It’s beginning to take shape under new ownership.
The organization can literally connect the past and present when more than 150 former players are expected to return for alumni weekend, which will culminate Sunday at halftime against the Carolina Panthers with a celebration of legendary cornerback Darrell Green and the retirement of his No. 28.
But it’s tricky. In 2022, he pointed out, the Commanders’ alumni weekend was “rather clumsy.” Despite the team’s apparent desire to avoid all references to its old name, which is a dictionary-defined slur, a pair of executives appeared to go off-script to appeal to the crowd.