The Washington NFL franchise announced Monday that it will drop the "Redskins" name and Indian head logo immediately, amid mounting criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans.

The team said it is "retiring" the name and logo and that owner Dan Snyder and coach Ron Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design.

The move came less than two weeks after Snyder, a boyhood fan of the team who once declared he would never get rid of the name, launched a "thorough review" amid pressure from sponsors.

Native American advocates and experts have long criticized the name they call a "dictionary-defined racial slur." 

Controversy over the name resurfaced in recent weeks amid widespread racial and social justice protests across the United States after the death of George Floyd in police custody. 

FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America all lined up against the name, which was given to the franchise in 1933 when the team was still based in Boston. Amazon last week also pulled the team's merchandise from its website. 

(With input from agencies)