Washington president Jason Wright loved 'Warriors' nickname until he researched it

It’s been a busy week for Washington Football Team president Jason Wright. Last week, he announced Washington’s new name and logo would be revealed in early 2022.

Just days later, Wright published a letter on the team’s official website ruling out one potential nickname. Wright said Washington would not be selecting “Warriors” as the team’s new moniker.

Next up, Wright was a guest on the “Washington Football Talk” podcast with JP Finlay and discussed his stance on the “Warriors” nickname, admitting he loved the name until the team did extensive research.

“We said, you know, ‘Warriors’ doesn’t work for a variety of reasons. That was a learning journey for me, frankly,” Wright said. “Cause, in full transparency, it was my front runner. I loved it. I loved it personally. I thought all the different things that it connotes was in line with the spirit of what we wanted to develop, both on and off the field.”

While Wright liked the name, he understood that others might not feel the same way due to Washington’s previous nickname, taking “Warriors” out of the running.

Prioritizing the voices that have been most impacted by this is the most important thing we could do at this stage. And they were very clear in their direction and thoughtful in their direction. I could be logical as the day is long in the way that I think about it in my mind, but it’s about the diversity of perspectives and how that changed my own thinking and our collective thinking about this that landed us where we landed.

Whether or not you agree with Wright’s take, he’s right. The franchise should make a clean break. The WFT president often spoke of how important it is for fans to remain involved in the rebranding process.

This was an outstanding interview — and it was only part one. Finlay asked the right questions and Wright, as always, was ever so thorough in his answers.

One thing is certain, a large portion of the fan base will be unhappy with any name Washington chooses. But, as long as the team wins on the field, everything else takes care of itself.