The meeting was requested for the purpose of being permitted to make a request officially to Williams himself. The issue at hand for these Native Americans was the team name: the Washington “Redskins.”
In their meeting in the office of Williams, the delegation conveyed to Williams their feelings that the name “Redskins” was a “racial derogatory epithet.”
Williams himself responded later stating that he had determined to make it a time of listening for himself. He did not actually take any action or vocalize any position, expressing his aim was to simply give them a hearing.
Of interest here is that it was also 1972 when Walter “Blackie” Wetzel chairman of the Blackfeet Nation, also requested a meeting with Washington ownership. His concern was actually of quite a different nature.
Wetzel, proud of his heritage, voiced his concern and the concern of other Native Americans that Vince Lombardi had influenced the organization to remove the spear and feather helmet (1965-69) for the softer “R” with two feathers.
Not feeling too well today guys/ladies. This cold/flu has got me pretty beaten down. As for the uniform selections for todays game. I wish they would use these helmets and a different kind of uniform combination.
@Redskins #HTTR pic.twitter.com/2eIPxq6qNA
— Pauly isn’t Superman (@BigManPauly) October 20, 2019
Walter Wetzel then requested the organization present more of a visual support for the Native Americans on their helmet, consequently displaying pictures of Indians in native headdresses as what he hoped to be much better choices for the helmet to represent his people.
The result was that the “R” helmet was eliminated after only two seasons (1970-71) for the noble, distinguished profile of a Native American male who was on the Redskins helmet from the 1972 through 2019 seasons.
Game Used Washington Redskins 1980s Kelley Clearshell Football Helmet NFL @HelmetArch @LionTraveler13 @RealStuff14 @montehorton @UniWatch @WTHelmets @HelmetAddict @The_HelmetGuy @Redskins @DaleJr pic.twitter.com/bDn1WjVGVE
— Helmet Archaeology (@HelmetArch) June 9, 2020
In 2020, the team quickly became the “Washington Football Team” — a lame redundancy — which was clearly a knee-jerk over-reaction, and then on February 2, 2022, they became the Washington Commanders.
Washington now looks to begin a new era leaving its controversial — but beloved — former team name behind.