Redskins Logo Changes: Comparing Historical and Replacement Marks

Before you start

This comparison covers the former Washington Redskins logo and the Washington Commanders marks that followed the 2020 name change. Use it for design study, historical reference, or personal projects. Team logos are trademarked; do not use them in commercial materials without applicable rights. Check the team's current site or official media guides for the latest approved assets. No special software is needed beyond an image viewer or browser; the work is local.

Step-by-step instructions

Gather visual references first. Find a clear front-facing image of the old Redskins mark, the Washington Football Team wordmark used in 2020–2021, and the Commanders mark introduced in 2022. Prefer high-resolution PNG or SVG files for cleaner inspection. Place all files in one folder so they can be opened side by side.

Open two images at once on your screen. On a laptop, use split view or two separate windows. On a phone, switch between images or use a simple collage app. Keep the same zoom level for both files so size differences do not distort the comparison.

• Look at silhouette first: note whether the mark is a portrait, letterform, shield, or abstract shape.
• Compare color: count the main colors and note whether burgundy, gold, and white persisted across versions.
• Compare lettering: check whether the mark includes a wordmark, monogram, or no text.
• Compare negative space: look for gaps inside the mark and how they change the shape at small sizes.
• Compare cultural framing: note that the old name and imagery were retired after years of public debate.

Check the output

A useful comparison should let you describe what changed and what stayed similar. The Commanders identity kept burgundy and gold as a visual thread, but replaced the portrait-style mark with a simpler W-based emblem. Confirm that you can distinguish the old mark from the current one even when both are reduced to about 32 pixels high. If small details disappear, use a larger source file or zoom in rather than guessing.

Common problems and next steps

Low-resolution references are the most common issue. Avoid enlarging tiny previews, because that adds blur and hides the shape differences you are comparing. Search instead for a better-quality version of the same asset. If colors look inconsistent, remember that screen brightness, image compression, and old scans can shift the appearance; compare official digital files where possible.

If you plan to trace or redraw the mark for practice, keep the work private or clearly label it as a study. Do not present a recreation as an official Commanders logo. For publication, contact the team or the NFL for permissions, because logo use is governed by trademark rights rather than image availability.