Washington Commanders Logo History: 1937 to Today

This guide covers the Washington Commanders logo and helmet marks from the first design to 2026, mostly from Wikipedia and team news. It does not cover every minor change.

Washington Commanders logo history timeline

This guide describes logos in words and tables. Standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.

The spear era (1965 to 2019)

For much of the franchise's history in Washington the team, then known as the Redskins, wore burgundy helmets with a spear-and-feather decal from 1965 to 1969 and revived the look on alternates in 2002 and 2003. Gold facemasks arrived in 1978. The old name and logo were retired in 2020.

The "W" (2020 to now)

In 2020 and 2021 the team played as the Washington Football Team with a simple "W" and player numbers on the helmet. The 2022 rebrand made a bold burgundy "W" with a gold outline the primary logo; the sportslogos report said it stays true to the franchise's burgundy and gold. In 2025 the team revived a 1980s set with a gold "W" helmet logo.

The 2026 Spear W and what may come

The all-black Hail Raiser alternate of 2026 has a low-gloss black helmet with the "W" logo and a spear woven through the center. Reports say the club may give the spear-through-the-W a bigger role, possibly as the main logo from 2027; that decision is "far from final," according to a news summary, so we treat it as a rumor.

Commanders helmet and logo placement

The helmet has been burgundy (gloss burgundy with three stripes in 2026) with gold facemasks since 1978; a spear helmet in 1965–1969; and a matte black Spear W helmet for the Hail Raiser alternate.

The Commanders new logo, the old logo and the spear logo

The Washington Commanders new logo is the burgundy "W" with a gold outline from the 2022 rebrand, and the new Washington Commanders logo you see on gear is that mark. The NFL Washington Commanders logo on a helmet is the same "W," and WA Commanders logo searches point to it too. The Washington Commanders old logo, and the old logos before it, were retired in 2020. The Commanders spear logo is the spear that goes through the "W" on the 2026 Hail Raiser helmet, a Commanders alternate logo that recalls the spear helmets of 1965 to 1969. A Washington Commander new logo or a Commanders new logo 2026 search usually means that Spear W; the primary logo is still the "W," and any change to it is a reported possibility, not a decision.

Reading the Commanders timeline: old logo, new logo

Fans search for the Commanders logo, the Commanders old logo and the Commanders new logo, and this page answers all three. The newest entry is the last row of the table; earlier rows are older logos and wordmarks. A logo can change on the helmet, on the sleeves or on the chest at different times, so the same year can appear in more than one row. To date an older jersey, compare the product photo with the table: look at the wordmark, the sleeve mark and the facemask color. Where the sources we read disagree or give no year, the table leaves the year out rather than guess.

Logo changes and jersey changes

A logo and a jersey do not always change together. For the uniform side of the story, read the Washington Commanders uniform history and the Washington Commanders jerseys 2026 guide. For retired-player styles, see legends jerseys.

Old logo, new logo: which jersey to buy

If you like an older look, Washington Commanders throwback jerseys is the place to start. If you want what the team wears now, choose the current home or away jersey. Nike Game is the everyday tier and Limited adds sewn-on numbers; compare them in the Nike Game vs Limited vs Elite guide, and check the NFL jersey size chart. Men's, women's and youth sizes are available. Logo patches and decals vary by style, so look at the product photo before you order.