Washington Redskins Logo PNG
The Washington Redskins logo indicates patriotism and respect for their roots. Football is not a job but a personal hobby for each club player, which they do with joy. The emblem hints at the team members’ agility, accuracy, and speed.
Washington Redskins: Brand overview
Washington Redskins is an American club of professional football players and is part of the National Football League. The team represents the NFC East Division, which was formed in 1932. The club is located in the metropolitan area of Washington, DC.
The franchise began with the Boston Braves team. A year after its inception, it was renamed Boston Redskins – based on its location. Then George Preston Marshall, founder and first owner, moved her to Washington. This happened in 1937.
In 1969, Marshall passed away, and a controlling stake was bought by Edward Bennett Williams, who was the club’s majority owner until 1974. Then, Jack Kent Cooke acquired part of his shares, automatically receiving an equal co-owner status. This was made possible thanks to the fact that he already had a 25 percent share of the Washington Redskins: he received it through a deal with George Preston Marshall during his lifetime – when he suffered a stroke and was unable to conduct business actively.
From 1985 to 1997, Cooke led the club and created his foundation. In 1999, Daniel Marc Snyder, who currently heads the franchise, acquired the controlling interest.
Interestingly, Redskins is the first NFL team with a personal marching band and sports anthem (Hail to the Redskins song). The first name went to her from the eponymous baseball club Braves. After moving to Washington, she retained the Redskins option, merely changing the location – from Boston to Washington. Now, around the name associated with the image of the native Indian, scandals do not cease since “red-skinned” is considered a politically incorrect, derogatory, and insulting word.
Meaning and History
Although the brand logo has undergone several cardinal changes over almost a 90-year history, visually, it has always remained within the Indian theme. The franchise’s official colors are brown, yellow, white, burgundy, and black. At the same time, not all of them are present in each version of graphic symbolism.
What is Washington Redskins?
The Washington Redskins was the previous name of the Washington Football Team, a member of the NFC East. The franchise, provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area, was renamed in 2020. It is one of the top leaders in the National Football League, with over 600 wins.
1932
At the beginning of a sports career, the team took the logo from the Boston baseball team. It was used until 1933. It depicts the red head of a representative of America’s indigenous population in a traditional feather headdress. The element is made in the profile and turned to the left. Facial features and details are formed from white lines. All parts have a double edging in the colors of the base palette.
1933 – 1936
The emblem of this period is associated with the renaming of the group to Boston Redskins. She repeats the previous version, but not wholly – some differences can be traced. Firstly, another style of drawing is close to realistic. Secondly, the details are a yellow circle covering the central element, small strokes on the face, a white background, black hair, and two feathers. Moreover, the head of the Indian is already turned to the right.
1937 – 1951
Moving the franchise to Washington brought her an updated logo. A Native American head profile is circled in yellow. The hair is now dark brown and in the braid – a white garter. The feathers have changed shade – now they are brownish-red. The face and neck of the Indian are tanned, with a light redhead: strict features, a serious look.
1952 – 1959
In 1952, the team began to use a different symbolism—with the most realistic image of the authentic American population. Designers removed the yellow circle, leaving a free white space. Her hair was jet black, her skin brown, and her feathers were yellow and red.
1960 – 1964
The logo of these years directly echoes the debut version in red and white. In 1960, the club returned the head of an Indian’s sketchy silhouette and turned to the right. It has no exact outlines—only the general lines from the face, neck, two feathers, and hair tied into a bun. The background is a red substrate. There is also a white border.
1965 – 1969
During these years, the franchise attempted to alter the logo significantly, leaving only feathers from the usual image. Everything else has been removed. The result is a concise graphic sign with a sharp spear on which two feathers hang. The color scheme has also changed: Yellow is actively combined with white.
1970 – 1971
Vince Lombardi, a Washington Redskins coach, insisted on a radically new logo. The logo of that period shows the capital “R,” reflecting the team’s name. The sign is placed on a white background in the circle’s center. Like the edging of the graphic symbol, the letter itself is painted in dark red. On the right are two white feathers with yellow tips – a reference to the Native American theme.
1972 – 1981
In 1972, the club decided to return the logo of 1933-1936 and replaced “R” with a representative of the indigenous population. A yellow ring appeared on the logo again, inside of which is the head of an Indian looking to the right. He has dark brown skin with a red tint and charcoal-black hair with white feathers. Two side feathers on the edging line remained unchanged.
1982
This version is the result of a marketing requirement. The developers “pressed” the side feathers to the ring because they did not fit into the round stickers for helmets. Also, the designers turned the Indian in the opposite direction – to the left.
1983 – 2020
In 1983, the sticker manufacturer began to use more flexible material, so the feathers were returned to their hanging look. The current version is a simplified repetition of the 1972 logo with minimal amendments. Among them are dark gray shadows instead of black on the nose, in the corner of the mouth and cheekbones, thickened lines on the face, and even shadows under the chin and neck. It also changed skin color for a couple of tones. This version is under development approved by the former head of the National Congress of American Indians, Walter “Blackie” Wetzel.
2020 – 2021
2021 – today
Washington Redskins: Interesting Facts
The Washington Commanders, previously known as the Redskins, are a seasoned team in the NFL with a lot of history.
- Start and Early Days: They began in 1932 as the Boston Braves, became the Redskins the next year, and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1937. The team was known as the Redskins up until 2020.
- Winning History: They’ve won quite a bit, including the NFL Championships in 1937 and 1942 and Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI. This success has made them a well-respected team in the league.
- Broadcast Innovations: The Commanders were pioneers, being the first NFL team with their own marching band and fight song. These moves helped mix sports with entertainment in new ways.
- Racial Integration: In 1962, the team was the last NFL team to include African American players due to federal government pressure. The team signed Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Jackson, and John Nisby.
- Famous Players and Coaches: Many greats have been part of the team, like coach Joe Gibbs and player John Riggins, who had a standout moment with a 43-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XVII.
- RFK Stadium: From 1961 to 1996, this was their home, known for its lively atmosphere and dedicated fans.
- FedExField: In 1997, they moved to FedExField in Maryland, the biggest NFL stadium.
- Changing the Name: The name “Redskins” was dropped in 2020 after calls to change it due to its offensive nature to Native Americans. They were called the Washington Football Team for two seasons before becoming the Commanders in 2022.
- Dedicated Fans: Despite recent challenges, the team keeps a strong fanbase, drawn to its storied past and Super Bowl wins.
- Helping the Community: The team also does much off the field, focusing on health, education, and helping out in the D.C. area through its charitable foundation.
The switch to the Commanders marks a fresh start, showing internal changes and shifts in American culture.
Font and Colors
The Washington Redskins Football Club logos live up to its name. They depict either representative of America’s indigenous population or the attributes of their culture, such as spears and feathers. The modern version resembles a portrait of an Indian turned-in profile. It was developed in 1972, and in 1983, the designers only slightly changed the colors. This emblem was endorsed by Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, ex-head of the National Congress of American Indians.
The composition of the logo is simple. The center is the head of a dark-skinned man with a distinctive hairstyle and two white and black feathers. This element is inside a white circle surrounded by a yellow ring and decorated with two more feathers – the same, but only with yellow edges.
The logo creators did not use the standard typeface or the Washington Redskins proprietary font because the team’s logo does not contain any lettering. All it has is the head of a brown-faced Indian with black hair. The dark palette is complemented by light shades: yellow and white. They create the necessary contrast so that the main character with the characteristic skin color is immediately visible.
FAQ
What happened to the Redskins logo?
The team, known as the Washington Redskins, changed its name and logo. The old name was widely criticized for being offensive to Native Americans, and the logo, which featured a Native American figure, received similar backlash.
The team decided to make the change due to growing pressure from sponsors, fans, and civil rights groups, especially during the racial justice movements in the United States. Many sponsors who wanted the team to rebrand even threatened to withdraw their support, which played a big role in the decision.
During the review, the team spoke with various groups, including Native American organizations, to understand the impact of their name and logo. As a result, they abandoned the old name and logo and temporarily renamed themselves the Washington Football Team. This temporary name gives the team time to consider a new permanent name and logo that everyone will receive well.
Where did the Washington Redskins logo originate?
The Washington Football Team logo originated from the Buffalo Nickel, a coin issued in 1913 featuring Native Americans. This coin inspired the team’s original logo design.
In 1972, Walter Wetzel, leader of the Blackfeet Confederacy, redesigned the logo to provide a more detailed and authentic representation of Native American imagery. The team used this new design until 2020.
The decision to use a Native American character in the team’s earlier logos was influenced by William Henry Lone Star Dietz, then the team’s coach. Dietz, who was a white man, claimed to be of Native American descent. These elements show how the team’s logo is tied to historical and personal influences.
Do the Redskins have a new logo?
Yes, the team adopted a new temporary logo in 2020. This change is part of their ongoing efforts to distance themselves from past controversies surrounding their old logo, which included Native American imagery. The new temporary logo is part of a larger rebranding effort. It’s simpler and designed to avoid potentially offensive imagery, demonstrating a major shift in the team’s identity as they strive for a more inclusive approach.
What is the Redskins’ new name and logo?
The team adopted the temporary name “Washington Football Team.” They made the change as part of an attempt to rebrand and distance themselves from their old name and logo, which had been criticized for being culturally insensitive. During this period, they used a simple logo with a brown square and a yellow “W.”
The team will unveil a new permanent visual identity in 2022. The change is intended to mark a new era for the team as it strives to connect with fans and reflect modern values of inclusivity.
