The Montana family and Washington commanders celebrate the old logo

A Montana family has advocated for the NFL team formerly known as the Washington Redskins to keep its logo that has been used for nearly half a century.

The late Walter “Blackie” Wetzel helped design this logo as a tribute to the chiefs of the Blackfeet Nation.

It is a helmet logo worn by Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien, who each quarterbacked the team to victories in Super Bowls XVII, XXII and XXVI.

And for the family, it's not about bringing back the Redskins name, but about the history, tradition and meaning of the logo.

The Washington Commanders welcomed 22 members of the Wetzel family to Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on September 15.

An exhibit honors Walter Wetzel and his inspiration for helmet decals for the team once known as the Redskins.

“The commanders recognized my grandfather and his contribution in designing this logo,” Ryan Wetzel told MTN Sports around the time the family traveled to Washington. “They recognized our family and the opportunity to be a part of the family was something I know my grandfather always wanted.”

The team used the logo from the 1972 season until 2020, when the team changed both its name and logo due to concerns.

Wetzel spoke to Q2 in June while attending the Montana Football Hall of Fame ceremony.

“It’s not a cartoon,” Wetzel said. “There’s a big story behind it, and it’s a positive story in some ways that we need to continue to share in the context of this franchise.”

The Wetzel family has a long history in the Blackfeet Nation.

Ryan's father was a tribal leader and athlete. His grandfather, Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, served as tribal chairman in the 1950s and later as president of the National Congress of American Indians.

“Left a legacy that still impacts society today,” Ryan said.

Ryan Wetzel says he grew up hearing the words “Redskins” and “Red Nation.”

“Redskins were part of how you would identify a cultural person as a Native American,” Wetzel said. “There are the blacks, the browns, the whites and then the reds. And often there was a reference to the Red Nation. That’s how I was raised.”

He also understands the negative connotations of Redskins and scalping.

“And there is this division and a lot of people are now aware of it,” Ryan Wetzel said. “And we as the Wetzel family actually just wanted to praise the logo and not necessarily the name.”

It's perhaps no surprise that the Wetzels were big fans of the Washington team, which won three Super Bowls after the 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons.

“It was like a family member just got married or something,” Ryan Wetzel said. “It was a joyful time and seeing the smile on my grandfather's face because I'm telling you, he had a piece of it, right? I remember as a little kid just calling it “Grandpa’s Team.”

And now the Wetzel family and the Blackfeet Tribe are enshrined in NFL history.

The man behind a logo, perhaps now gone but never forgotten.

“He was a remarkable man,” Ryan Wetzel said. “His vision was always about his people first, and it was the right recognition.”

The team and the Wetzels sent a joint statement:
“The Washington Commanders and the Wetzel family are proud to unveil the Walter “Blackie” Wetzel Memorial at Northwest Stadium. In 1971, Blackie created an iconic logo worn by Super Bowl winning teams and fans around the world. Now, half a century later, his story and contributions will forever be remembered in the House of Commanders. The Washington Commanders and the Wetzel family look forward to the future and continuing our work together.”