Washington's NFL team officially has a new name: the Washington Commanders

• The Washington Football Team officially renamed itself the Washington Commanders.
• The team announced its new branding Wednesday, 18 months after ditching its previous name.

Washington, DC's NFL team has officially renamed itself as the Washington Commanders.

The team was previously known as the Washington Redskins, but ditched the moniker in 2020 over growing concerns about its racist connotations.

Since July 2020, the team has been known simply as the Washington Football Team, but has been consulting on a new name throughout that period.

It shortlisted seven new names — the Armada, the Presidents, the Brigade, the RedHogs, the Commanders, the Redwolves, the Defenders — while also considering remaining the Washington Football Team.

After an 18-month long process, the team finally confirmed its new name Wednesday, saying in a statement that the new name "embodies the most powerful aspects of Washington's story by paying tribute to the team's rich history and championship culture, personified by mission-driven players who take command, forge success and break barriers on and off the field."

The Washington Football Team had an unspectacular season on the field in 2021, finishing the regular season with a 7-10 record, missing out on the playoffs, and ending the season third in the NFC East.