Chapter 1: The NFL's Naming Conundrum

The NFL has just delivered an exhilarating series of playoff games, and in appreciation, I present my humble solution to a pressing issue facing the league.

The NFL, keenly aware of its reputation among Americans, is pushing for all teams with potentially offensive nicknames or mascots to reconsider their choices. The pressure to rename these teams is immense, regardless of how long these names have been in use.

A recent example is the Washington Redskins, a name that dates back to 1933 when they were known as the Boston Redskins. After moving to DC in 1937, they were called the Washington Redskins until 2019, when they temporarily adopted the name Washington Football Team (WFT). This name was clearly a placeholder until 2022, when they officially became the Commanders, a name intended to symbolize a new era for the franchise, as announced by co-owner Dan Snyder.

While the name Commanders may have a strong connotation, it seems rather lackluster given the extensive research and focus groups involved in the decision-making process. Personally, I find the WFT name more intriguing.

This brings us to the last remaining team with a contentious name: the Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL has struggled to convince the owners to change this name, which dates back to 1962 when Lamar Hunt relocated the Dallas Texans to Kansas City, inspired by Mayor Harold Roe Bartle's ties to Native American culture and the Boy Scouts.

Critics like Mohawk journalist Vincent Schilling argue that the Chiefs name is problematic, despite claims that the team honors Native Americans. The organization has taken steps to ban headdresses and Native American face paint at games, and they have altered the traditional Tomahawk Chop gesture to a closed-fist motion. Yet, there has been no commitment from ownership to abandon the name Chiefs altogether.

To address this issue, I propose a creative compromise: keep the name Chiefs but shift its reference from Native Americans to the historic Southwest Chief train. This Amtrak route, which passes through Kansas City, carries a rich legacy of American history, covering over 2,200 miles through the Midwest and Southwest.

I believe the enthusiastic fans of the Chiefs would find greater joy in mimicking the sounds of an old steam train horn rather than the controversial chop gesture. Additionally, this change would not require any new branding materials, and the NFL could rest easy knowing there would be no offense taken with this iconic train reference.

Could there be a movement like "Conductors Lives Matter"?

This narrative was self-published on 2/2/22.

Artificial turf, contracts, and more are discussed in this Pro Football Talk segment, highlighting the business aspects of the NFL.

Chapter 2: Addressing the Running Back Issue

In light of the ongoing discussions surrounding the NFL, another pressing concern arises: the plight of running backs in the league.

This video explores potential solutions to the challenges faced by running backs in the NFL, shedding light on a complex issue within the sport.