It's official. The Washington Football Team is now a thing of the past, as the franchise ushers in a new era under the Washington Commanders moniker. Reactions to the name change have been largely mixed, though the team's new uniforms seem to have impressed the fan base. Head coach Ron Rivera was the latest to weigh in on Washington's new team name, and he seems to be on board with the change. Via Nicki Jhabvala, Rivera said that he expects the name to carry significant weight in the D.C. community.

Rivera believes the Commanders nickname will be a strong representation of the direction the franchise wants to head in. The Commanders' head coach also mentioned, via Matthew Paras, that he is appreciative of the ties the nickname has to the military community, suggesting the 2022 Salute to Service game will be even more impactful as a result of the franchise's new name.

The Washington Redskins nickname was retired ahead of the 2020 NFL season. After facing scrutiny over the origins of the nickname, the organization officially rebranded as the Washington Football Team. It was a temporary change, however, as the organization revealed its plans to unveil a new name in 2022. They followed through with those plans by announcing the Commanders' nickname on Feb. 2, releasing a triad of new uniforms along with the epithet.

Rivera and the new-look Washington squad will look to enjoy a successful first season amid the rebrand, but they'll first have to make some moves in free agency and welcome the first-ever Commanders' draft picks.