Washington Commanders' band to return for 2022 NFL season

After existing as the Washington Football Team for a couple of NFL seasons, the newly-named Washington Commanders are moving forward with a fresh identity but are also happily embracing certain items from their past. 

As John Keim explained for ESPN, the Commanders will be bringing their famous marching band back for the 2022 campaign. Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the club from utilizing a band back in 2020, and Washington was still in the middle of its re-brand last fall. 

Washington's band was originally founded in 1937, and Commanders president Jason Wright vowed to ESPN last year it would eventually return. Additionally, a statement shared on the club's website confirmed that Washington "plans to bring back a revamped arrangement of the team's original fight song" that was introduced in 1938 but is heavily associated with the franchise's former name deemed racist and offensive by many. 

"We are very excited to bring back the marching band with a new sound as we enter the inaugural season of the Washington Commanders," Commanders vice president of guest experience Joey Colby-Begovich said for the release. "We have continually emphasized the return of traditions that have lived with the Franchise for decades and this is something we have prioritized in the rebrand process with the hiring of Maestro Jeffrey Sean Dokken, the team's first ever Music Director, and Brittney Lynn, the Band Director, who will work together to oversee efforts for enhancing the fan experience on gameday through creating and combining new and old music traditions."

Washington revealed the Commanders name back on Feb. 2.