Redskins Plan Clever Rally Towel Giveaway to Counter Steelers Towels

Brendan Menapace

The Pittsburgh Steelers have perhaps the most well-known rally towel in history: the “Terrible Towel.” Most Steelers fans have at least one in their possession, and the stands at Steelers games, whether home or away, are full of the spinning yellow towels.

So, before Monday’s upcoming game between the Steelers and the Washington Redskins in Washington, D.C., Redskins staff (rightfully) was worried that their stadium would be too yellow. So, in a clever marketing tactic, the team will give away maroon rally towels before the game. That way, when mixed with the yellow Steelers towels, the stands will be full of both of the Redskins’ colors.

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

According to The Washington Post, the last time the Steelers came to FedEx Field in 2008, the players were amazed by how many fans came with them.

“Redskins players and fans expressed shock at the thousands of Pittsburgh fans waving gold ‘Terrible Towels’ at FedEx Field during the Nov. 3 game won by the Steelers, 23-6,” wrote George Solomon in The Washington Post in 2008.

By issuing maroon towels, the Redskins are co-opting the Steelers yellow to create a stadium-wide atmosphere of Redskins colors, whether the fans are trying to or not.

The Redskins tried something similar in 2009 during a preseason game against the Steelers by handing out white towels, but it was more of an attempt to snuff out the yellow, rather than match it.

This is a good example of an organization creating a clever campaign to positively change an overall scene. It’s something as simple as a rally towel, but who knows the effect it could have on the players on the field.

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