WASHINGTON -- The Redskins say they will conduct a thorough review of the team’s name a day after their main sponsor asked them to change it.
On Thursday, FedEx said: "We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name." The company paid the team $205 million in 1999 for the naming rights to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. In addition to the stadium name and sponsorship agreement, FedEx CEO Frederik Smith is a minority owner.
Also on Thursday, D.C. leaders said that the Redskins cannot move to a new stadium in the District unless the team changes its name.
Washington’s NFL team has faced criticism about the use of the Native American stereotype as their nickname for decades. The team’s nickname has come under even more scrutiny since the police-involved death of George Floyd in May. The name has been deemed “racist” by many, but the organization has refused to change it. Owner Dan Snyder has said he’s not open to changing the name and views it as an honor toward Native Americans.
On Friday the team released the following statement:
FOX News and The Associated Press contributed to this article