Magic Johnson hints at potential Commanders name change

Magic Johnson could see a name change for the Commanders.

Following the sale of the Washington football team on Thursday, the minority stakeholder went on the “Today” show and talked with Craig Melvin about rebuilding and rebranding the once-proud Commanders.

“Everything is on the table, isn’t it? Especially after this year. “We’ll see where we go with the name, but I can’t say yet,” Johnson, 63, said. according to usa today,

Josh Harris, a private equity investor and owner of the NBA’s 76ers and the NHL’s Devils, completed his purchase of the team after the deal was unanimously approved by NFL team owners during a special session on Thursday.

Former owner Dan Snyder’s record-setting $6.05 billion sale price is higher than the $4.65 billion Rob Walton paid for the Broncos in June 2022.

Snyder, 58, bought the Commanders and its stadium in Landover, MD, in 1999 for $800 million.

A franchise mired in controversy for the past decade, Harris, Johnson and the rest of their squad have been tasked with developing a new winning culture on and off the field.

A name change may be part of the process.

“We will spend this year understanding what we have,” Johnson said. “And then I’m sure it will come out. Commanders, the name of the team will be revealed eventually. But right now, we have enough work to do which will keep us busy.”

Johnson is now involved in ownership groups in four different leagues: the Dodgers in MLB, the Los Angeles Football Club in MLS, the LA Sparks in the WNBA, and now the Commanders in the NFL.

Johnson’s newly acquired team was rebranded as the Commanders last February after playing two seasons as the Washington football team.

During Friday’s introductory press conference, Harris also addressed the potential name change.

“We have a lot to do. We have to prepare the team to win football games,” Harris said. according to athletic, “We have to go out into the community and start pushing it. …and we have to change the stadium and change the fan experience. … those are our three priorities, and that’s what we’re focused on right now…”

“It’s not about how I feel, it’s about how the city feels about all these things. … We’ll look at everything and see where we are.