Report: Commanders Have 'No Timeline' for Possible Name Change After Sale of Team

The Washington Commanders' new ownership group might eventually change the team's nickname, but it doesn't appear to be a pressing matter at this point.

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, there is "no timeline" for the Commanders to consider a possible name change.

The Commanders' sale to a group led by Josh Harris was approved on Thursday in a unanimous vote from the other NFL team owners.

While the nickname wouldn't seem to be a high priority given all of the things Harris and co. need to repair coming in the wake of all the things Dan Snyder did over the past 24 years, it has been a key talking point in the two days since they took over.

Magic Johnson, who has a four percent ownership stake in the franchise, told Craig Melvin of NBC's TODAY that "everything's on the table" with the nickname, but any potential change would likely have to wait until after the 2023 season.

Harris told fans and reporters during an introductory press conference on Friday the main priorities right now are the upcoming season and building trust and connection with the fan base driven off by Snyder's many issues over the years.

The NFL constitution and bylaws (h/t Scot Chartrand of Front Office Sports) typically require teams to wait five years to undergo a rebrand, except in certain special circumstances that include a change in ownership.

Washington adopted the Commanders nickname in February 2022 after playing the previous two seasons as the Washington Football Team. The franchise has been unable to trademark the Commanders name because the United States Patent and Trademark Office denied its application in May.

The USPTO denied it on grounds there is an existing trademark for the "Commanders Classic" used for the annual college football game between Air Force and Army, as well as pending applications filed by a man in the Washington D.C. area.

Washington adopted the Commanders nickname in February 2022 after playing the previous two seasons as the Washington Football Team.