The Washington Football Team has officially changed its name to the Washington Commanders, marking the end of a search that lasted over one year.

• On Wednesday, the Washington Football team unveiled its new name: The Washington Commanders.
• Over a year elapsed before the team finalized on a new name following the abandonment of its previous one.

The Washington Football Team officially changed its name to the Washington Commanders.

The team's president, Jason Wright, announced on NBC's "TODAY" program on Wednesday morning that the search for a new name for the Washington Football Team has ended. The club ditched its former name, "Redskins," in July 2020 after corporate sponsors threatened to pull business due to the name's long-standing racist connotations against Native Americans.

The name "Commanders" is fitting for a 90-year-old franchise, as it has weight and meaning, and it resonated with fans. It embodies the values of service and leadership that define the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area.

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

The Cleveland Guardians, which had previously removed logos mimicking Native Americans, has been joined by Washington, who changed its name from Indians to Guardians last July after critics argued it was racist. The new name will take effect during the 2022 MLB season.

The new team identity will help increase the value of the club, which is still working to repair its image after workplace misconduct allegations.

Although 2021 was a tumultuous year for the Washington Football Team, with owner Dan Snyder stepping away and the team failing to make the playoffs for the 17th time in 23 years, the franchise remains the fifth most valuable in the National Football League, worth $4.2 billion, according to Forbes.

According to Wright, the team considered the name "Wolves," which was popular among fans, but they were unable to use it due to trademarks held by other teams. As a result, variations like "Red Wolves" were not viable. Wright wrote about this in a blog post on January 4th.

Shifting the focus to a new stadium

The franchise is set to move forward with a new stadium after renaming its current location, FedEx Field, which has become dilapidated and made headlines during the 2021 season due to issues such as a broken sewer pipe and a railing that collapsed after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 2.

The NFL's first Black team president, Wright, will lead the process.

In August 2020, Wright informed CNBC that the clock was ticking on the new complex and that it was a significant undertaking that would drive the economy not only for the club but also for the entire region.

The team's lease at FedEx Field will expire in 2027. Previously, the team had expressed interest in constructing a new 60,000-seat stadium at its former RFK site in Washington, D.C., where the team played from 1961 to 1996.

The U.S. Department of the Interior owns the land where RFK occupies, so the team must secure another lease to operate on the property. Additionally, the club must satisfy local D.C. officials. Furthermore, Virginia politicians, including new Gov. Glenn Youngkin, are trying to attract the team with a new stadium.

The franchise could find an easier route than the RFK site, as the team is not the most popular sports club on Capitol Hill.

In 2021, Snyder settled a dispute with co-owners, including Chairman Fred Smith, when he reportedly paid $875 million to buy minority shares of the team. Last June, the team named his wife, Tanya Snyder, as co-CEO. The following month, the NFL fined the team $10 million following an investigation surrounding sexual misconduct allegations.

Dan Snyder relinquished control of daily operations to concentrate on a new stadium.