Montez Sweat, defensive end for the Chicago Bears, says his former team’s transformation from the Redskins to the Commanders was embarrassing.
Sweat was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Redskins.
But the team was pressured by protest groups and sponsors to change their name and after a two-year transition in which they were known simply as the Washington Football Team, officially became the Commanders in 2022.
Sweat found the whole ordeal to be ridiculous.
RELATED: Native American Group Sues Washington Commanders To Return To The ‘Redskins’ Name
Montez Sweat Rips Redskins Name Change To Washington Commanders
“I got drafted as a Redskin,” Montez Sweat told host Chris Long on the Green Light podcast. “Then I was a Football Team. And then I was a Commander I don’t know – I think I’m missing one.”
Sweat, who was traded to the Bears in the middle of last season, was asked how guys in the locker room felt about the name change.
“So I went through on all three phases [and] every time I’m like, ‘Bro, why won’t this be the Redskins?” he explains. “It’s part of the culture – what’s the problem?'”
“If it was up to me, we would have just been the Redskins.”
Commanders Is Pretty Weak
While Montez Sweat was obviously irked by the shift away from the Redskins name, the ultimate selection of Commanders is worse in his view.
The podcast host points out how at least being known as the Washington Football Team was “kinda cool.”
“Anything but the Commanders,” he adds.
“I was so embarrassed,” Sweat replies. “I was so embarrassed. So when people asked who I played for, I was like ‘Washington.'”
Several polls prior to the Redskins changing their team name showed the vast majority of Native Americans did not take offense to the term. And most NFL fans opposed the name change.
A Native American group in September filed a federal lawsuit against the Commanders for changing the name from the Redskins.
They cited defamation, civil conspiracy, and civil rights violations for the organization’s role in suppressing Native American history.
They insist they want the franchise to return to its traditional nickname of ‘Redskins.’
