Descendants of Chief John Two Guns White Calf, the Blackfeet leader whose likeness inspired the former Washington Redskins logo, are pressing the Washington Commanders to restore the team’s original name and logo while naming its planned new stadium in his honor.

The family’s estate says it was never consulted before the franchise abandoned the Redskins name and logo in 2020 following years of pressure from Native American activist groups that argued the name was offensive. The descendants contend that the decision erased a legacy they believe should be recognized rather than discarded.

“They tried to erase us, like we didn’t exist anymore,” Kenneth Conway, who leads the chief’s estate, told KRTV in Montana.

Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, a Blackfeet tribal leader, created the original logo in the early 1970s to honor White Calf. The image remained associated with the NFL franchise for decades before the organization retired it amid growing controversy over the team’s name.

Morningstar Gopher, who handles media relations for the estate, said the chief’s likeness had a lasting connection to professional football. She also argued that the image was never intended to cause harm.

The family’s proposal goes beyond bringing back the Redskins name and logo. The estate wants to participate directly in any restoration and give its blessing to the team’s renewed use of the name and image. It also wants the franchise’s new stadium named John Two Guns White Calf Memorial Stadium.

Gopher said the proposal would create the first NFL stadium named after a Native American. Attorney Denise Rosado, who is assisting the estate, described the plan as a potential “win-win” for both the family and longtime fans.

The estate has also requested a meeting with President Donald Trump, according to an Oct. 12 press release cited by the Washington Examiner. Organizers are planning a cultural showcase in Washington on Nov. 20 that they say will include a meeting with franchise leadership.

Gopher criticized the circumstances surrounding the 2020 name change, arguing that it occurred while then-owner Dan Snyder was facing a professional crisis. The family’s effort has also aligned with Trump’s public support for restoring the former name.

In July 2025, Trump called on the franchise to immediately return to the Washington Redskins name in a Truth Social post. He also threatened to withhold support for a new stadium deal in Washington if the team did not comply.

The Commanders, however, have maintained that the franchise will keep its current identity. Owner Josh Harris said in 2024 that the former name could not return and reaffirmed the team’s commitment to the Commanders name in February 2025.

The estate’s campaign now seeks to persuade the franchise to reconsider its decision, arguing that restoring the name and honoring White Calf could recognize the chief’s legacy while reconnecting the team with its former identity.