Josh Harris: Commanders will ‘look at everything’ in regards to name change, but not priority

New Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris made numerous references at his introductory press conference about how he grew up a fan of the Washington Redskins. But as for how the Chevy Chase, Maryland, native feels about the team’s current moniker?

Well, Harris wasn’t quite ready to weigh in on the Commanders’ name, one way or another. 

“It’s not about how I feel,” Harris said. “It’s about how the city feels about all of this stuff.” 

Harris said Friday that he and his ownership group will “look at everything,” but added they were focused on other priorities at the moment. He declined to answer directly whether he would be open to a rebrand or whether he likes the name “Commanders.” The comments came hours after NBA legend and new Washington limited partner Magic Johnson said in an interview with NBC’s “Today” show that “everything’s on the table” in regards to a name change. 

Harris listed three immediate priorities for his regime. He said the group has to get the team ready to win football games, create a better presence in the community, and improve the stadium and fan experience. 

“We’ve got a lot to do,” Harris said. “That’s what we’re focused on right now.” 

If Harris and Co. are truly open to rebranding the franchise, the task would be yet another change for a team that’s had three different monikers since 2020. After retiring Redskins that summer, the team went by the temporary Washington Football Team for two seasons before unveiling the Commanders in February 2022. 

The Commanders’ name has generally been met with a lukewarm reaction, if not outright disdain from a portion of the fanbase. A Washington Post poll found that nearly half of area residents disliked the name within two weeks of the announcement. 

Former Washington team president John Kent Cooke told The Washington Times recently that the Commanders is “a poor name” and that Harris should change it. Marketing experts have said that embracing another rebrand would be one way to make a clean break from previous owner Dan Snyder’s tumultuous ownership. 

Earlier this year, a source with knowledge of the situation said Harris’ group had held no discussions about changing the name. But Johnson’s remarks Friday, as well as those from ESPN reporter Don Van Natta, who said he thinks there’s a “pretty good chance” that the name would be changed, reignited the discussion. 

Appearing on “Today,” Johnson said Harris would use the upcoming season to evaluate “what we have in place” before making any big-picture decisions. 

“I think everything is on the table, especially after this year,” Johnson said. “We’ll see where we are with the name, but I can’t say that right now. … I’m sure [talk of a new facility] will come up, the name of the team will come up eventually, but right now we’ve got enough work to do and that will keep us busy.”

Harris said he understood the passion of the fanbase, adding the positive reception to his ownership had been “overwhelming.” Harris paid a record $6.05 billion to buy the Commanders, a sale that NFL owners unanimously approved on Thursday.

“Our priorities are we’ve got to get ready for football season, we’ve got to improve the existing fan experience and we’ve got to get out in the community,” Harris said. “We’re going to look at everything and see where we are. But those are three priorities right now.”