The Red Hogs name should have been chosen by the Washington Commanders.

• This week, the Washington Commanders unveiled its new name after a year-long search.
• The NFL team retained its burgundy and gold colors but opted not to use the "Hogs" moniker to commemorate its 1980s squad that achieved two Super Bowl victories.

It seemed that Doug Williams was taken aback by the Washington Football Team's new name, as indicated by his hesitation and apparent disapproval.

The Washington Commanders.

On Wednesday, the National Football League franchise unveiled its long-awaited secret during a rebrand on NBC’s “TODAY” show, officially burying the name Washington Football Team. The team had been using a generic moniker since it dropped its previous name, which was considered a racist slur against Native Americans, in July 2020 due to the threat of corporate sponsors pulling business.

During the announcement, a Black team executive and the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl sat beside a Black team president, who is also the first in the NFL.

“We are the Commanders,” Williams said.

Wright stated that it connects the franchise's past achievements with its future traditions.

Despite being valued at over $4 billion, the NFL team continues to face issues, with new sexual harassment allegations against owner Dan Snyder, which he has denied.

The team's new brand was adopted, but it missed an opportunity to revisit a memorable aspect of its past with the name change.

Love them Hogs

The team's name, The Commanders, is not the most original, but it's not the worst either.

The San Antonio Commanders franchise was owned by the Alliance of American Football before the league folded in 2019. As a result, the name was likely up for grabs after the football property filed for bankruptcy. The league owed more than $40 million, $7 million of that to the initial investor in AFF, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In August 2020, Wright, who became president, sought fan feedback for a new name. He stated in a blog post that the franchise couldn't use the popular name Red Wolves due to trademarks held by other teams. Out of all the rumored names, Presidents, was the least preferred among NFL fan polls.

The Morning Consult found that the Defenders had the most favorable company name, followed by the Admirals and Commanders.

To learn what a true fan of Washington football would think, I turned to my friend Ron Burke, a devoted fan of the team, and he shared with me about the Hogs.

The "Hogs" nickname for Washington's offensive linemen originated in the 1980s with Pro Bowlers Jeff Bostic, Joe Jacoby, and Russ Grimm, who were coached by longtime assistant Joe Bugel. This group helped Washington make it to three Super Bowls, winning in 1982 and 1987.

"Porky" Grimm stated in a video about the Hogs' origins that the name was present but did not gain popularity until they began winning. He further added that the fans played a significant role in making the team as successful as it is today.

The Hogs grew in character and fun through their annual "5 o'clock club" gatherings, starting in 1982 and held after practices. Jacoby claims that they created Hog T-shirts to wear every Thursday, or face a $5 fine among the group. The money collected funded their annual Hogs party.

Don Warren, a former Washington lineman, joked in a video that to be part of the 5 o'clock club, one had to be ugly, fat, and semi-lineman.

The Hogs name was a fitting choice for the team and business, and the merchandise featuring Hog noses would likely be popular among fans. Additionally, Ron had some ideas for honoring the original Hogs during the first few seasons to help reintroduce the team's history and rebuild the brand.

Dominic Chu, my CNBC colleague, also approved of "Warthogs" after the team went with the Commanders.

We must proceed with it, and I find the name appealing," Williams stated. "The Washington Commanders have a pleasant ring to it.

A secret no more

On Wednesday, I watched "TODAY" to witness the reveal, although the name was already known after a video taken from a helicopter showed the Commander's name inside FedEx Field.

During the reveal, Wright stated that the name has the weight and meaning suitable for a 90-year-old franchise. It resonated with the fans and embodies the values of service and leadership that define the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area.

Additionally, it's something that we could own and develop over the next 90 years, as Wright stated.

We are in the minority regarding any version of the Hogs name, but it sounded fun.

Fanatics revealed that the Commanders was the top-selling team on its platform, and the company also added four of the top five selling products, including two Commanders jerseys, a team hoodie, and a long sleeve T-shirt.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey of Tom Brady, which was the fifth most popular item, was removed from the list because the NFL quarterback retired the day before the Commanders' name was revealed.

The Morning Consult poll revealed that the Red Hogs name was one of the least popular among fans, with 54% of respondents finding it unfavorable. Additionally, the Armada and Presidents were also at the bottom of the list.

Williams replied to fans who disapprove of the Commanders name, saying, "Through players like Jonathan Allen and this football team, they will come to love the Commanders."

I still like the Red Hogs.