The Washington Football Team, now known as the Washington Commanders, is a professional NFL team founded in 1932. Originally established as the Boston Braves, the club underwent several name changes, becoming the Boston Redskins in 1933, the Washington Redskins in 1937, and the Washington Football Team in 2020 before adopting its current name in 2022. The team has maintained a consistent color palette of burgundy and gold throughout its history, symbolizing its enduring identity.

Logo Evolution

1932
The team’s inaugural logo featured a red-and-white depiction of a Native American man's head in profile, adorned with an ornate feather headdress that dominated the design. This emblem, though short-lived, laid the foundation for the team's early visual identity.

1933–1936
A redesign introduced a more subdued and professional badge. The Native American profile faced right, with a simplified headdress of two white feathers. The color scheme shifted to black, white, and dark yellow, emphasizing stability and refinement.

1937–1951
In 1937, the logo evolved to include a brown-skinned Native American profile with refined contours. The image was encased in a thin yellow circular frame, which simplified the badge while maintaining its focus on the central figure.

1952–1959
The profile gained gradient details for a more realistic appearance. The feathers in the headdress were now red and yellow, adding vibrancy to the design while removing the circular outline for a cleaner look.

1960–1964
This minimalist design used the team’s classic burgundy and gold palette. The Native American silhouette, rendered in white and outlined in red, was placed within a solid red medallion encircled by a white border.

1965–1969
A significant departure from tradition, the new logo featured a gold arrow with a feather. This sleek design used a black outline, making it versatile across various backgrounds.

1970–1971
The circular badge returned with a burgundy "R" in the center, surrounded by a white background and framed in burgundy. Two feathers were attached to the frame's left side, blending modernity with a nod to past designs.

1972–1981, 1983–2020
Reintroducing the Native American profile, the new badge featured a detailed black-and-brown portrait surrounded by a white medallion with a golden frame. Two feathers adorned the left side of the frame, while the figure’s hair also held two smaller feathers.

1982
Used briefly, this version flipped the Native American profile to face left, refining the facial contours and enlarging the medallion. The feathers arched along the frame, providing a sense of flow and balance.

2020–2021
With the transition to the Washington Football Team, the logo embraced minimalism. The primary badge featured a burgundy background with “Washington” in bold yellow uppercase letters above “Football Team, Est. 1932” in a simple sans-serif font. The alternative emblem was a square burgundy icon with a stylized yellow "W."

2020–Present
The current logo maintains the minimalist approach while emphasizing the club’s burgundy and gold heritage. The bold "W" continues to symbolize the team’s resilience and forward-looking vision.

Colors and Symbolism

The club's consistent use of burgundy and gold underscores its identity and tradition, with burgundy representing strength and unity and gold symbolizing excellence and prestige. Through its numerous transformations, the logos reflect both the team’s historical roots and its evolution toward a more modern and inclusive identity.