Washington, D.C., residents and sports fans can’t get behind the Commanders — or, at least, their name.

In 2020, the Washington Redskins football team temporarily changed its name to the Washington Football Team after criticism that the former name was racist toward Native Americans. Then in 2022, the NFL team’s new name, the Commanders, was unveiled, much to the disappointment of fans. A citywide Washington Post poll taken the month of the team’s new name reveal showed that 49% of district residents disliked the name, including 17% who said they hated it. 

Not much has changed since then. A new poll shows 48% of district residents dislike the name, including 15% who said they hated it. Among those who labeled themselves Commanders fans, the number of those who dislike the name jumped to 58%. 

Only 16% of Commanders fans think the team should keep its name. If Commanders owner Josh Harris pursues a name change for the team, it would mean the team would have gone by three different names in less than a decade. No other team has done that before without changing regions.

The NFL’s bylaws say a franchise can change its name, logo, and uniforms only once every year, but an exception to that rule is if there is a change in team ownership. 

Last July, Daniel Snyder sold the Commanders to Harris, prompting fans to call for the team’s name to be changed. 

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Some of the most popular replacement name choices include the Redwolves, Warriors, and Red Tails. However, more people favored returning to the Washington Football Team name. Sixteen percent of fans suggested returning to the team’s previous name, and 16% suggested sticking with Commanders.

However, ownership has revealed that the football team isn’t concerned about changing the team’s name. Instead, the owners have invested more than $75 million in upgrades to their Landover stadium and Ashburn practice facility. The owners are also seeking a new naming rights partner for the current stadium.