The Washington Commanders are reportedly considering reintroducing their classic Redskins logo in archival footage, clothing, and merchandise, a move that comes amid growing opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The Washington Commanders have agreed to un-cancel the Redskins logo, with the Montana senator stating, “The censorship of the former Commanders logo was a classic case of woke gone wrong.” pic.twitter.com/Qdga3gBIVt

— Dean Cramer | Kingsofar (@kingsofar) November 27, 2024

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U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) announced this week that as part of a deal with the team, he has pledged to support legislation that would authorize the construction of a new stadium for the team, with ownership agreeing to never censor the old Redskins logo, which was removed in 2020.

The Redskins name and logo were retired during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

The franchise’s ownership made the decision to change the name to the Washington Commanders two years later.

However, even with the new name, the controversy surrounding the Redskins logo has continued, especially after D.C. local news outlets began censoring the old logo in coverage of the team.

This backlash was amplified after the NFL’s official social media accounts censored the logo when honoring former team members.

The iconic logo of the Washington Football Team is coming back to the uniform. The dirty little secret the NFL will never tell you is that they kept the logo and would not give it back to the Wetzel family who created the iconic Blackfeet tribe artwork. The NFL literally tried to… pic.twitter.com/e2tP3keWeY

— Thomas Augustus – The Sunshine Journal 🇺🇸🍊🇺🇸 (@thomas_augustus) November 27, 2024

Senator Daines highlighted the ongoing efforts to restore the Redskins logo during an appearance on Fox News.

He explained that the team’s agreement to never censor the old logo was part of a broader deal that included support for a new stadium.

“This is honoring a Blackfeet chief who was born in Montana, he was highly esteemed,” Daines said. “The Blackfeet Chief of Montana, their tribal chairman and tribal council, signed a letter in strong support to bring the logo back. It honors Indian country.”

Daines called the removal of the Redskins logo a “case of woke gone wrong,” stating that the DEI movement had gone too far by canceling Native American culture.

He emphasized that the logo, originally designed by Native American artist Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, was a tribute to Blackfoot Chief John Two Guns White Calf.

Censorship of the former Commanders logo was a case of woke gone wrong.

I applaud the @Commanders & the @NFL for their commitment to never censor the logo again & for working with the Wetzel family to restore it to a place of prominence and honor to benefit Indian Country. pic.twitter.com/BYnNDGXnhB

— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) November 20, 2024

The senator noted that Wetzel’s work, inspired by the Blackfoot chief, had been part of the team’s history for decades and was not intended to disrespect Native American heritage.

Don Wetzel, the son of the artist, and his grandson Ryan Wetzel have been vocal in their support for the logo’s return.

Both Wetzel men have worked with Daines for more than three years in the effort to bring the Redskins logo back.

Ryan Wetzel expressed his optimism about the chances of the logo’s restoration, telling The Daily Montanan, “That is helping our Indian people throughout the state and nationally. So today is a good day for sure.”

Ryan Wetzel also shared his excitement at the prospect of the logo’s return, noting the significance of the conversation after years of the logo being declared permanently gone. “It’s exciting to even have that conversation after they said it (the logo) would be gone forever,” he said.

The controversy surrounding Native American imagery in sports is not limited to the Washington Commanders.

The Kansas City Chiefs have also faced pressure to abandon their Native American arrowhead logo.

However, the team’s ownership, coach Andy Reid, and players have firmly supported maintaining the logo.

Despite the pressure, the Chiefs have resisted calls to remove the symbol.

The team gained additional attention last year when a far-left publication falsely accused a 9-year-old fan, Holden Armenta, of wearing blackface at a game.

The publication published a photo that showed only one side of the boy’s face, hiding the other half, which was painted red in support of the team.

Armenta’s parents, Raul and Shannon Armenta, filed a defamation lawsuit against Deadspin, which was allowed to proceed by a judge in February.

The Washington Commanders’ potential decision to bring back the classic Redskins logo represents a significant shift in the conversation surrounding Native American symbols in sports.

With support from Native American groups and figures like Wetzel and the Blackfeet Tribe, the move could pave the way for similar reconsiderations in other sports teams facing similar pressure.

The decision, however, is not without controversy, as the backlash against DEI policies continues to shape discussions about race, culture, and representation in American sports.

As the issue progresses, the future of the Redskins logo will likely remain a hot topic in both sports and political arenas, particularly with new developments surrounding the NFL’s approach to Native American imagery.