Papa John's, NFL end sponsorship deal

It appears the NFL will be looking for a new official pizza in 2018.

Papa John's CEO Steve Ritchie said on the company's earnings conference call that the league and the company have put an end to their sponsorship deal, ESPN's Darren Rovell reports.

"The NFL and Papa John's have made a mutual decision to shift from their official league sponsorship to a focus on partnerships with 22 local NFL teams, presence in broadcast and digital media, and key personalities in the sport," the league and company said in a joint statement.

Nearly four months ago, former CEO and founder John Schnatter claimed the players who staged protests during the national anthem hurt the business. The company later apologized in a statement.

The pizza company is the first NFL sponsor to sever ties before their deal expired. The league is expected to name a replacement before the 2018 season begins.