Jonathan Allen says teammates were split ‘50/50’ on new name originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
It’s official, the Washington Football Team is out and the Washington Commanders are in. The team revealed its new name Wednesday after an 18-month rebranding process, kicking off what owner Dan Snyder described as a “new chapter” for the storied franchise.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was among the Washington players past and present on site at FedEx Field for the announcement. After Allen expressed his excitement for the new name and jerseys during his locker room clean-out interview in January, The Today Show’s Craig Melvin asked him what the players’ reaction was like when they first heard the name.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. >Sign up here.
“Kinda like the internet, it was 50/50,” Allen said. “Half loved it, half didn’t. But I tell people, it’s hard to love something when you only hear the name. You have to see the name, see the uniforms, see the environment, see the culture. It’s more than just a name, it’s a whole rebrand for this entire organization. So the name is just a part of what we are and what we’re gonna be moving forward.”
Fellow defensive lineman Chase Young didn’t address the name itself during his own exit interview but gave his thoughts on “Commanders” in an interview with USA TODAY last November.
The name is going to take some getting used to, both inside and out of the Commanders’ locker room.
