ASHBURN, Va. — Washington team president Jason Wright sat at his desk last summer, pondering the five letters from fans in front of him. To Wright, they represented the challenge the team faced as it entered its rebranding efforts in search of a nickname and logo.
One letter focused on the former nickname, explaining in a long essay why the brand shouldn’t have been changed and how it devastated their family. Another was the opposite; the writer expressed pride in the franchise for finally moving on, allowing them to continue being a fan.
A young child, inspired by his father’s regaling of the franchise’s famed offensive line nicknamed The Hogs, drew in crayon a gray warthog wearing a gold sweater with a burgundy W. A Vietnam veteran said he liked the military tie-in. Finally, the last letter mentioned Doug Williams’ role in franchise history as the first African American quarterback…
