Two members of Congress have sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking him to publicly back the appeal to change the name of the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins' name has come under increased scrutiny over the past year after members of the Native American community argued that it was an offensive and disparaging racial slur.
However, team owner Dan Snyder has refused to change the name, and Goodell recently said that it "honoured" Native Americans rather than insulting them.
"The National Football League can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur," read the letter.
"The National Football League is on the wrong side of history... It is time for the National Football League to formally support and push for a name change for the Washington football team."
The letter was signed off by US Senator Maria Cantwell and Member of Congress Tom Cole.
