The Washington, D.C. NFL team is expected to announce today that it will be retiring its Redskins moniker, according to multiple reports. The team has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks to do so, leading to a now-completed “thorough review” that included both owner Daniel Snyder and head coach Ron Rivera.
The debate around the name was resurfaced this month when a group of 87 investment firms and shareholders worth a combined $620 billion issued letters to Washington’s partners, including FedEx, Pepsi, and Nike, calling for them to end business with the team. FedEx – whose chairman is a minority owner of the team – said it would pull its naming rights deal from the team’s stadium if the name wasn’t changed. Retailers, including Amazon, Nike, and Target, also pulled team merchandise from stores and their websites.
While the team is expected to announce today that it will change its name, it is unclear if it will be announcing a new one immediately. It was expected to remove any Native American imagery from its logo while sticking with its burgundy and gold color scheme.
