There’s going to be a new name in the National Football League this season.
Yahoo Sports reported late Sunday that the NFL’s Washington franchise has committed itself to a new name, the league has asked partners to begin scrubbing “Redskins” from their platforms in anticipation of a change that could be coming as soon as Monday.
Charles Robinson, senior NFL reporter for Yahoo, told ESPN Radio’s Dallas-Fort Worth station that “Washington is about to have a new name in the next 24 to 48 hours” on Saturday.
BREAKING NEWS from @CharlesRobinson: a name change for Washington is coming within 24 to 48 hours.
— 103.3 FM ESPN (@1033fmESPN) July 11, 2020
As first heard on the Saturday Sports Brunch with @clarencehilljr and @DJR1033. pic.twitter.com/bWYLT6tUrs
The new name remains unknown, but Warriors, Red Wolves and Redtails have ranked among the post popular choices among fans on social media, USA Today reported.
Looks like 4 names are far ahead in the debate over a Redskins name change - Warriors, Redhawks, Redtails and Redwolves https://t.co/tOfhmpuWgQ
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 9, 2020
The team name is widely held to be a racist slur against Native Americans and stadium sponsor FedEx first asked for the name change in early July.
After the request, a statement from the Redskins was distributed claiming they would “undergo a thorough review of the team’s name.”
Owner Dan Snyder has not shown a willingness to change the name since buying the team in 1999. He told USA Today Sports he would “NEVER” change the name.
Recently, more than a dozen Native American leaders and organizations sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calling for the league to force Snyder to change the team name immediately.
