Democracy Dies in Darkness
Washington Commanders

Senator will block RFK site bill unless team honors family of logo creator

Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is calling for Commanders officials “to properly honor the history of the logo and heritage of our tribal nations.”

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A view of RFK Stadium beyond the Capitol dome. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
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Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) intends to block legislation that would give the District greater control over the RFK Stadium site until the Washington Commanders honor a Native American family that helped design the team’s former logo.

At a Wednesday hearing in the Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee on National Parks, Daines will call for Commanders officials to meet with the family of Walter “Blackie” Wetzel and members of the Blackfeet Tribe. Wetzel helped create the profile of an Indian warrior that served as the NFL team’s primary logo from 1972 until 2020, when the team dropped both the logo and the “Redskins” team name that had been a source of public debate.