Pizza Hut makes surprising change to iconic name ahead of NFL season

Pizza Hut is temporarily dropping "Pizza" from its name as the restaurant chain leans into football season while its parent company moves ahead with a multibillion-dollar sale of the iconic brand. The chain said this week that it will go by "Hut" for the next 25 weeks, coinciding with the 2026 NFL season. "You can just call us HUT for the next 25 weeks," Pizza Hut wrote in a social media post announcing the temporary rebrand. The company showed off the change at a restaurant in Plano, Texas, where a banner featuring a football covered the word " Pizza " on the location's exterior sign. Pizza Hut, which is headquartered in Plano, also changed its social media profile images to a logo without the word "Pizza." YUM BRANDS IN TALKS TO SELL PIZZA HUT TO PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM: REPORT The football-themed marketing push comes at a pivotal time for Pizza Hut, as parent company Yum! Brands moves ahead with plans to sell the iconic restaurant chain. FOX Business reported in June that Yum! was in exclusive talks with private equity firm LongRange Capital over a potential sale of Pizza Hut. At the time, no agreement had been reached, and LongRange was among several firms that had explored acquiring the chain. Yum! later announced that LongRange agreed to acquire Pizza Hut's operations outside mainland China for approximately $1.5 billion, while Yum China Holdings agreed to purchase the chain's mainland China operations in a separate $1.2 billion deal. The transactions value the operations at a combined $2.7 billion, with Yum! expecting approximately $2.3 billion in net proceeds. YUM BRANDS SELLS PIZZA HUT FOR $2.7B, SHARPENS FOCUS ON TACO BELL AND KFC The football-themed marketing push comes at a pivotal time for Pizza Hut. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images) "Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry," Yum! CEO Chris Turner said. "Pizza Hut was built by the passion and dedication of our team members, employees and franchisees, and we’re excited for the next chapter." Ticker Security Last Change Change % YUM YUM! BRANDS INC. 152.33 +6.40 +4.39% The sale follows a prolonged period of pressure on Pizza Hut's U.S. business. FOX Business reported in June, citing Reuters, that Pizza Hut generated about 12% of Yum!'s revenue in 2025 and had posted declining U.S. comparable sales for 10 consecutive quarters. Yum! had been evaluating strategic alternatives for Pizza Hut, including a potential sale, as the chain worked to reverse its sales slump. Pizza Hut says it will go by "Hut" for the next 25 weeks, coinciding with the 2026 NFL season. LongRange emerged as a potential buyer after Apollo Global Management and Sycamore Partners were also reported to have explored bids for Pizza Hut. Yum! said earlier this month that the sale remained on track to close in August. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO The "Hut" branding, however, isn't permanent. After its 25-week football promotion ends, Pizza Hut is expected to return to the name consumers have known for decades. FOX Business's Bradford Betz contributed to this report.