The Washington Commanders have resumed selling a limited collection of throwback merchandise featuring the former Washington Redskins name and logo through their official team shop, both online and at the stadium.
The Commanders are selling the gear under their current branding, despite the merchandise displaying the Redskins name and imagery. The collection includes a Sean Taylor graphic T-shirt and his retired No. 21 jersey, both of which prominently feature the Redskins name and logo. The team describes the items as Commanders gear in its listings, though the Redskins branding remains visible on the products.
A team spokesperson told WUSA9 that the Commanders are required to keep the old trademarks in commercial use to maintain control of them. The merchandise is part of a limited throwback line offered by Mitchell & Ness, a company known for vintage-style sports apparel.
Native American advocacy group responds
The Association on American Indian Affairs condemned the sale of the Redskins-branded merchandise, stating it “condemns the sale of merchandise by the Washington Commanders bearing the former racist team name and Native imagery.”
Team cites trademark obligations
The Commanders’ decision to sell the Redskins gear stems from trademark maintenance requirements, according to the team’s spokesperson. The franchise played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons (2020–2021) before rebranding to the Commanders in 2022. The Redskins name, which had been in use since 1937, was dropped in 2020 amid criticism that it was a racial slur.
Available merchandise details
The throwback items include:
- A Sean Taylor graphic T-shirt ($49.99) featuring vintage graphics of the late safety in his Redskins uniform.
- Taylor’s retired No. 21 jersey ($114.99), which includes the Redskins name and a 75th-anniversary patch.
- Other throwback T-shirts, such as an Art Monk commemorative shirt ($49.99), displaying his Redskins-era statistics and records.
The merchandise is labeled as “almost gone” on the team’s website, indicating limited availability.