John KeimJul 21, 2025, 06:03 PM ET
CloseJohn Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio.Open Extended Reactions
WASHINGTON — Mayor Muriel Bowser remains confident that the Commanders will return to the city but steered clear of President Donald Trump’s threats to scuttle a stadium deal if the team does not return to its former name.
The deal for the Commanders to return to the city has reached a precarious point, still needing the D.C. Council approval. The council will hold hearings on the topic July 29-30, but a vote is not scheduled. It’s possible the council will vote while on recess within several weeks, one source said.
The president threw a big curve into matters Sunday when he posted on social media his desire for the Commanders to go back to their former name, the Redskins, as a stipulation for building a new stadium on federal land in the district. Congress has leased