Redskins Name-Change Prank Fooled Tons Of People, Understandably

If you thought the Washington Redskins recently had changed their team name, we can’t blame you.

The Rising Hearts Coalition, a group of Native advocates, came up with an elaborate prank that led many people to believe Washington had altered its controversial nickname. Thanks to a number of faux articles and websites that mirrored major publications, it seemed as though the “Washington Redhawks” became the newest NFL team name.

In fact, the hoax gained so much traction that the Redskins — yes, the Redskins — issued a statement regarding the issue Wednesday afternoon.

We’re not sure which bird is more intimidating: a Redhawk or a Seahawk?