ESPN Announcer Refers To D.C. Football Team As "The Washingtons" (UPDATE: ESPN Says It Was Inadvertent)

    In other words, Mike Tirico wasn't intentionally avoiding "Redskins."

    Erik Malinowski
    by Erik Malinowski

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Update - Sept. 17, 12:45 a.m., EDT: An ESPN spokesman tells BuzzFeed that Mike Tirico informed him that the line described below "was an unintentional error" and that after saying "the Giants," Tirico "needed to make Washington plural and misspoke."

    Tirico also just tweeted out something to that effect:

    MikeTirico @miketirico

    .@awfulannouncing sorry no political statements here, just tripped over a word. I called the team the Redskins during last weeks game.

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    MikeTirico

    @miketirico

    .@awfulannouncing sorry no political statements here, just tripped over a word. I called the team the Redskins during last weeks game.

    / Via

    With numerous media organizations choosing not to call Washington's football team by its longtime name, it didn't go unnoticed tonight on Monday Night Football when ESPN's Mike Tirico referred to them as the "Washingtons."

    Awful Announcing @awfulannouncing

    .@miketirico? RT @victorromero55: Just heard Tirico say "the Washingtons" on MNF. Conscious decision to not use "Redskins" on air?

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    Awful Announcing

    @awfulannouncing

    .@miketirico? RT @victorromero55: Just heard Tirico say "the Washingtons" on MNF. Conscious decision to not use "Redskins" on air?

    / Via
    Paul Braverman @PaulBraverman

    Anyone catch Mike Tirico referring to DC's football team as "The Washingtons"? #MNF #Steelers #Bengals

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    Paul Braverman

    @PaulBraverman

    Anyone catch Mike Tirico referring to DC's football team as "The Washingtons"? #MNF #Steelers #Bengals

    / Via
    Roman WarHelmet @RomanWHelmet

    Did Mike Tirico just refer to the Redskins as the Washingtons?

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    Roman WarHelmet

    @RomanWHelmet

    Did Mike Tirico just refer to the Redskins as the Washingtons?

    / Via
    Cameron Gray @Cameron_Gray

    Unless I am deaf, I think @miketirico just referred to the #Redskins as "The Washingtons" - Curious if he meant to - #MNF #NFL #ESPN

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    Cameron Gray

    @Cameron_Gray

    Unless I am deaf, I think @miketirico just referred to the #Redskins as "The Washingtons" - Curious if he meant to - #MNF #NFL #ESPN

    / Via

    Tirico did call Washington's game last Monday night against Philadelphia without noticeably avoiding the "Redskins" name, so there's a reasonable chance this was more a mental hiccup than protest.

    Larry Downing / Reuters

    On the other hand, it was immediately after referring to Tom Coughlin's team as the Giants, not "the New Yorkers." We've reached out to ESPN for comment. We'll update when we hear back.