Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a busy man. You can now add part-owner of an NFL franchise to his resume. Johnson, who co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles FC, is now a minority partner for the Washington Commanders.
After NFL owners approve Josh Harris’ $6.06 billion bid for the Commanders on Thursday, Johnson took to Twitter to express his gratitude.
Johnson also spoke to Craig Melvin of NBC’s TODAY Show about his latest venture.
“It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Johnson said. “It’s a lifelong dream.”
Of course, one of the hottest topics surrounding the Commanders is their name. The team changed its longtime name in 2020 to the temporary moniker of “Football Team” for two seasons before eventually rebranding to the Commanders in Feb. 2022.
While some fans have adjusted to the new name or are just more concerned with winning, a large portion of the fan base hates the name for various reasons.
So Melvin asked Johnson about a potential name change, and the NBA legend didn’t dismiss it.
“I think everything is on the table, especially after this year,” Johnson said as the team begins training camp next week. “We’ll see where we are with the name, but I can’t say that right now.”
The NFL’s Washington Commanders has been sold to a group led by billionaire Josh Harris and a group that includes NBA legend @MagicJohnson. @CraigMelvin sat down for an exclusive interview with Johnson to talk about ushering in a new era for the team. pic.twitter.com/Y3NvWjU9j9
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 21, 2023
That’s the right answer. For a new group trying to engage the fans, you keep everything open whether you intend to change the name or not. Harris, Johnson and the rest of their ownership group have plenty of time.
The name debate became a hot topic again Thursday when ESPN senior writer Don Van Natta Jr. indicated another name change could be on the way.
During the new ownership’s introductory press conference Friday, Harris said the ownership group was focused on bigger issues than the name at the moment, such as fan experience, the community and the on-field product.
