A process is being set up for the review, and according to the team: ”It will end with a new name. This process allows the team to 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.”
Large investors have begun pressuring brands to end their deals with the team. One of them, Nike, seems to have pulled team products from its online store last week.
PepsiCo, issued a statement Friday welcoming the team’s decision: “We believe it is time for a change.”
FedEx agreed. They had been threatening to pull their sponsorship money if the team didn’t make a name change.
Ron Rivera, the Redskins head coach, has a big role in the process of changing the name and said, “If we get it done in time for the season, it would be great.”
Rivera, who was hired by Washington earlier this year after nine seasons as head coach of the Carolina Panthers and is one of only four minority coaches in the NFL. He said Dan Snyder had called him to discuss different names. The organization is looking for a new name that would respect Native American culture and also serve as a tribute to the military.
Rivera said, “We came up with a couple of names. Two of them I really liked.”
