Hours after FedEx said it had asked the Washington Redskins to change their name, Nike removed all references to the team — including the option to buy apparel — from its website.
Nike has yet to make an official statement regarding the Redskins’ name, but the decision is another major shift in the conversation related to the topic.
The move also comes after coalition of investment firms and nonprofits called on FedEx, Nike and PepsiCo to cut ties with the team if it doesn’t change its nickname, which many view as a racist slur.
On Nike’s website, “Redskins” currently yields no results for those who type the word into the team’s search bar — something that doesn’t happen when searching the NFL’s 31 other teams. Washington’s name is also not included on the drop down menu when searching for NFL gear.
Last year, Nike raised eyebrows when it provided “Washington Football” gear to the Redskins for the league’s annual “Salute to Service” weekend. A Redskins spokesman at the time referred all inquiries to Nike, who did not respond for comment.
The Redskins have faced renewed pressure over their name in recent weeks amid nationwide protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Earlier Thursday, FedEx said in a statement it had “communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name” — a monumental shift as FedEx CEO Frederick Smith is a Redskins minority owner.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.