The family of the man depicted in the former Washington Redskins logo has reignited the debate over the Washington Commanders’ rebranding, calling for the team to revert to its previous name and logo. The campaign is being led by Thomas White Calf, the great-nephew of late Blackfeet Nation chief John Two Guns White Calf, whose likeness was used in the old Redskins logo.
In a recent interview with Fox News after meeting with Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana), White Calf expressed his family’s desire to see the logo and name restored. “The fans want him back, and we want him back,” he said, referencing both the beloved emblem and the Redskins name.
His mother, Delphine White Calf, the niece of Chief Two Guns, also expressed pride in the family’s connection to the logo. “Our ancestor was the most famous and most photographed native in history,” she said. “Two Guns was also the face on the Indian head nickel. I’m proud of him. The Blackfeet are proud of him.”
The Washington football team has a long and controversial history with its branding. The franchise was founded as the Boston Braves in 1932, but quickly changed its name to the Redskins the following year, moving to Washington D.C. in 1937. The now-iconic logo featuring John Two Guns White Calf wasn’t introduced until 1971, when Blackfeet leader Blackie Wetzel created a portrait of the chief that would become synonymous with the team.
However, the Redskins name and logo faced increasing criticism over the years for being offensive to Native Americans. In 2020, after years of public pressure, including from sponsors, the team dropped the Redskins name. They played the 2021 season under the placeholder name Washington Football Team before settling on the new “Commanders” moniker.
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The term “redskin” has long been a point of contention. Some claim the word has origins in the 19th century, used as a pejorative during times of conflict with Native Americans. One 1863 announcement from The Winona Daily Republican infamously declared, “The State reward for dead Indians has been increased to $200 for every red-skin sent to Purgatory.” By 1898, Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defined the term as “often contemptuous,” cementing its negative connotation in mainstream language.
Despite this, many supporters of the Redskins name have pointed to studies suggesting the name wasn’t offensive to the majority of Native Americans. A 2016 Washington Post poll found that 90 percent of 504 Native American respondents were “not bothered” by the name. Former team owner Daniel Snyder even cited this poll in an open letter defending his decision to keep the Redskins branding at the time.
However, the reliability of that study has been heavily criticized by both journalists and social scientists. The Native American Journalists Association released a statement condemning the poll, saying, “The reporters and editors behind this story must have known that it would be used as justification for the continued use of these harmful, racist mascots.” In 2020, UC Berkeley published a study of 1,000 Native American respondents, finding that over half were offended by the Redskins name, further complicating the debate.
The team’s rebranding efforts went beyond just a name change. In 2021, they banned fans from wearing headdresses to home games in an effort to distance themselves from offensive Native American stereotypes. That same year, the Supreme Court ruled that a trademark law barring disparaging terms infringed on free speech, complicating earlier efforts by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to revoke the Redskins’ trademark due to its racial connotations.
Now, Thomas White Calf and his family argue that they were never consulted when the decision was made to remove Chief Two Guns White Calf from the team’s logo. Thomas, who resides on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana, feels the removal of the emblem dishonors his ancestor and the legacy he left behind.
In response to the renewed calls for a return to the Redskins branding, a Commanders spokesperson issued a statement to Fox News, noting that they are working with Senator Daines to “honor the legacy of our team’s heritage and the Native American community.” The team also revealed they have developed a relationship with Ryan Wetzel, the grandson of Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, who designed the original logo. “We look forward to honoring that legacy,” the statement added.
As the debate over the Washington football team’s name and logo continues to evolve, it remains a complex and emotionally charged issue that stretches beyond sports, touching on themes of heritage, identity, and respect for Native American history.
