Redskins name origin story refuted in today's Redskins news update

The Washington Redskins' team name has been the controversial center of Redskins news as of late, with several prominent figures (and U.S. Senators) coming out and imploring owner Daniel Snyder to change the team's name.

Per Robert McCartney of the Washington Post, the Redskins have been insinuating for years that the team name was an homage to Native-American culture, writing that "the team and NFL have claimed that then-owner George Preston Marshall picked the current name to honor the team’s Indian coach, William “Lone Star” Dietz, and some Indian players on the squad."

However, in the July 6, 1933 edition of the Hartford Courant newspaper, there is an Associated Press quote attributed to Marshall which refutes said claim: “The fact that we have in our head coach, Lone Star Dietz, an Indian, together with several Indian players, has not, as may be suspected, inspired me to select the name Redskins."

Whether the myth has been perpetuated due to lack of knowledge, or whether it was a knowing omission by certain parties, this latest finding may serve to amplify the noise surrounding the team and its controversial moniker.

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