Matthew McConaughey Defends Washington, D.C., NFL Team Name

By Aura Bogado Oct 21, 2014

In a cover story interview for November’s GQ, Matthew McConaughey makes clear that, despite being from Texas, he’s a hat-wearing fan of the Washington, D.C., NFL Team:

[You] were a Redskins fan growing up in Texas? What the hell was that about?
Two things. First: 4 years old, watching Westerns, I always rooted for the Indians. Second, my favorite food was hamburgers. The Redskins had a linebacker named Chris Hanburger.

That’s all it took?
When you’re 4 years old, that’s all it takes. I got a Redskins hat in my bag right now.

Hollywood Westerns were largely about myth-making, which shaped misconceived nations about Natives–and McConaughey’s comment appears to point to that.

And, there’s more:

What do you think about the calls for the team to change its name?
Man, it’s twofold. What interests me is how quickly it got pushed into the social consciousness. We were all fine with it since the 1930s, and all of a sudden we go, "No, gotta change it"? It seems like when the first levee breaks, everybody gets on board. I know a lot of Native Americans don’t have a problem with it, but they’re not going to say, "No, we really want the name." That’s not how they’re going to use their pulpit. It’s like my feeling about gun control: "I get it. You have the right to have guns. But look, let’s forget that right. Let’s forget the pleasure you get safely on your range, because it’s in the wrong hands in other places."

But as a fan, it would hurt you a little to see the logo gone?
It’s not going to hurt me. It’s just… I love the emblem. I dig it. It gives me a little fire and some oomph. But now that it’s in the court of public opinion, it’s going to change. I wish it wouldn’t, but it will.

Not everyone was "fine with it since the 1930s," since the term the team name uses refers to skinning Natives for bounty.

McConaughey also made the claim that he "know[s] a lot of Native Americans," who apparently back his claim but won’t say so publicly. He then made a rather confusing comparison to gun control–a topic that doesn’t include a racist team name.

Then again, he seems pretty certain the team logo will soon go. 

You can read McConaughey’s interview in its entirety over at GQ