Redskins announce thorough review amid pressure to change NFL team name
The Washington Redskins announced a ‘thorough review’ of their name amid pressure from Nike and Fedex, the naming sponsor of the team's stadium; David Spunt reports.
As the Washington football team continues to evaluate its Redskins name, it already has made a monumental decision moving forward. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team has made the obvious decision to remove the Native American imagery from its logo.
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ESPN's John Keim followed the initial report by stating that Washington plans to keep its colors of burgundy and gold "as of now."
Big-name retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well as Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods have removed Redskins merchandise from their websites. And on Thursday, FedEx -- which holds the naming rights to the team’s Maryland stadium -- formally requested a name change. FedEx CEO Fred Smith has an ownership stake in the team.
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The recent national focus on race relations since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has brought new scrutiny to the team’s name. The Redskins have since said they will conduct a “thorough review” of the team name as the organization faces immense pressure to change its moniker over racial connotations.
Primary owner Dan Snyder has long opposed renaming the team, which has been using the name Redskins since the 1930s. The team originated in Boston before relocating to D.C. after the 1936 season.
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The team also hopes to build a new stadium and return inside D.C. city limits -- but local leaders there say they are already seeking a name change as a condition of any potential stadium deal.
Fox News’ Dom Calicchio contributed to this report.