Are the Kansas City Chiefs considering a name change?
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the NFL’s best teams, but their name and logos have been the source of some controversy.
Like other brands making use of Native American references, the Chiefs have faced their share of backlash.
Is that going to cause them to change their name like the Washington Football Team?
The answer, for now, is no.
Kansas City Chiefs name change
When the Washington Football Team retired the use of their “Redskins” nickname, attention naturally turned to Kansas City as well.
In December, the Kansas City Star editorial board challenged the Chiefs to follow the lead of Washington and the Cleveland Indians in rebranding.
However, the team has given no indication they plan to make a change at this point.
In August 2020, the Chiefs released a statement adopting a series of policies based on consultations with the Native American community.
“In 2014, we began a dialogue with a group of local leaders from diverse American Indian backgrounds and experiences,” the team said. “As an organization, our goal was to gain a better understanding of the issues facing American Indian communities in our region and explore opportunities to both raise awareness of American Indian cultures and celebrate the rich traditions of tribes with a historic connection to the Kansas City area.”
The result included prohibiting fans from wearing headdresses and face paint that “references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions.”
They are also reviewing the use of the Arrowhead Chop and drums as part of the stadium experience, though that exploration is still ongoing. There doesn’t seem to be a timetable for deciding what is and isn’t acceptable on that front.
The question of whether the Chiefs should change their name isn’t going away. At this point, Kansas City is holding their ground while trying to work with American Indian community leaders to avoid offense.