DCIAA soccer players, sweaty teenagers, and wannabe influencers have long been exploring the abandoned building of RFK Stadium, recently renamed from FedEx field. The smell of spray paint lines, graffiti-covered walls, and crumbling supports surrounded by arid grass encircle the stadium. RFK Stadium was once a beacon of DC culture and pride, hosting intense sporting content, concerts, marriages, and more. Yet as you look at the current stadium, it tells a different story than the one that illustrates the stadium as a centerpiece of DC and Black history. 

Up until 1996, the Washington Commanders used to play their home games at RFK stadium. They were also the last NFL team to integrate, outraging activists and Washingtonians alike. George Preston Marshall, the original team owner, said he would add Black players only “when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites.” This spurred resistance, and protests erupted outside the stadium demanding for integration. Of the many voices shouting for change, the loudest was President John F. Kennedy. In 1961, he launched a program making the federal government more inclusive, hiring Interior Secretary Stewart Udall to aid him in his efforts. A native of DC, Udall set his sights on integrating the team, emphasizing that the team’s practice was telling the capital that segregation was “acceptable.” 

Udall’s plan rested on intimidation. In order to force Marshall’s hand, he gave him an ultimatum: either integrate the Commanders or find somewhere else to play. So, after going 1-9-2 the previous season, the team signed African American wide receiver and halfback Bobby Mitchell, marking the end of the Commanders’ segregated history. 

This was an incredibly impactful move for the city. Thanks to Udall and JFK, the Commanders now served as the true face of DC to families and communities alike.

The stadium used to be rented by the Commanders from the federal government, but has recently been returned to the city. The future of DC football is finally going to return to Washington DC, continuing the legacy of this momentous stadium.