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Washington Redskins Helmet
Washington Redskins Helmet
(Photo by TJ Root/Getty Images)

Washington Redskins Retire Racist Team Name Following Pressure From Sponsors

The franchise was originally based in Boston and was created in 1933.

The Washington NFL franchise will remove “Redskins” from the team's name following pressure from numerous sponsors, activists and investors.

According to a New York Times report Native American activists have been criticizing the name for decades, many believe it is a racial slur. The team was originally created 87 years ago in 1933 and was first located in Boston. 

Rather than using “Redskins,” the team is set to announce another name, they are currently weighing options. Nearly two weeks ago on July 3 the team announced that it would review the name. The Associated Press reports Dan Snyder, the current owner once declared he’d never change the name and has vigorously defended it for years. Snyder purchased the team in 1999 and became a majority owner. 

Amid the ongoing call for change as the country reckons with unjust killings at the hands of police, the team has been receiving pressure from sponsors. FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America are sponsors who have disagreed with the team name recently. Nike removed the Washington team’s gear from it’s online store standing in solidarity with activists and critics. Last week over a dozen Native American leaders and organizations wrote a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell demanding the retirement of the name. 

Snyder reportedly shared the new name would “take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and the local community it is proud to represent on and off the field.”

The "Redskins" name and logo will be retired and the owner Snyder and the head coach Ron Rivera are working on a replacement in addition to a new design.