The Washington NFL team owner had promised that this day would never come, but faced with calls for racial justice and the threat of sponsor loss, the team said Monday that it is dropping the name “Redskins,” which many see as an insult against Native Americans.
The team, in a statement, said it will “remove the Redskins name and logo” after 87 years. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who is entering his second year with the team, tweeted: “As a kid who grew up in the DMV, he will always be (save the Redskins) but looking forward to the future.”
“I have had to live with this name all my life,” said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who has fought for the name change. “I think this will be read as part of the George Floyd revolution.”
Following recent racial justice protests, the team faced mounting pressure to remove the nickname from native sponsors such as Nike, Pepsi and FedEx. Merchandise was also pulled from websites and store shelves.
“Withdrawing the name, in this case, is probably a positive net present value project for them. They will probably end up making money from this change rather than losing it,” Sheehan said.
In a statement, the National Congress of American Indians said: “We commend the NFL team in Washington for removing a brand that did not respect, degrade and stereotype all natives,” and asked other teams to remove the cartoons.
The Cleveland Indians announced that the team is reviewing their name, while the Atlanta Braves say they will reexamine applause from fans.
Washington owner Dan Synder and head coach Ron Rivera are working on a new name. They are reportedly interested in the “Warriors”, another popular option being the “Redtails” after the Tuskeegee Airmen. CBS Sports recently created a list of possible options, including the Hogs, Generals, and Renegades.
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