African-Americans
FILE - Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye (51) wears a "Stop Hate" social justice decal on his helmet during the team's NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 12, 2021, in Indianapolis. NFL teams will stencil “It Takes All of Us” and “End Racism” in end zones for the third straight season as part of the league’s Inspire Change social justice initiative. Players again can wear specific messages on their helmets. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, File)
All Rams will wear 'Choose Love' helmet decals vs Bills

By Rob Maaddi Sep. 08, 2022 09:55 AM EDT

FILE - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media after the close of the NFL owners' meeting on March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. A judge on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, quickened the time it will take to rule whether Goodell gets to decide the merits of racial discrimination claims made by Black coaches against the league and its teams, saying that it appears an effort to gather more evidence is a try at “an impermissible fishing expedition.” (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
Lawyers bash Goodell-led arbitration in NFL racial bias suit

By Larry Neumeister Aug. 31, 2022 01:50 PM EDT

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant Brian Flores, right, watches as the team goes through drills during an NFL football practice on May 31, 2022, in Pittsburgh. A judge on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, quickened the time it will take to rule whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gets to decide the merits of racial discrimination claims made by Black coaches against the league and its teams, saying that it appears an effort to gather more evidence is a try at “an impermissible fishing expedition.” Flores, who was fired in January as head coach of the Miami Dolphins and is now with the Steelers, filed the lawsuit in February. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Judge shortens road to decide NFL racial discrimination suit

By Larry Neumeister Aug. 04, 2022 12:30 PM EDT

Sandra Douglass Morgan, left, poses with Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis during a news conference announcing Morgan as the new president of the Raiders NFL football team Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Raiders' Morgan is NFL's first Black female team president

By W.g. Ramirez Jul. 07, 2022 06:29 PM EDT

Mike Grier listens to questions as he is introduced as the new general manager of the San Jose Sharks at a news conference in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Sharks hire Mike Grier as NHL's first Black GM

By Josh Dubow Jul. 05, 2022 02:16 PM EDT

FILE - St. Louis Cardinals football player Marlin Briscoe (86) is shown in August 1975. Marlin Briscoe, the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League, died Monday, June 27, 2022. His daughter, Angela Marriott, told The Associated Press that Briscoe, 76, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Norwalk, California. (AP Photo/File)
Marlin Briscoe, 1st Black starting QB in AFL, dies at 76

By Cliff Brunt Jun. 27, 2022 01:46 PM EDT

FILE - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions from reporters at a press conference following the close of the NFL owner's meeting on March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. The NFL and six of its teams have formally moved in a New York court to force a lawsuit alleging that they engaged in racial discrimination into arbitration where Goodell would be the arbitrator. The league and the teams filed papers Tuesday, June 21, 2022, with a judge presiding over a lawsuit filed by Brian Flores after he was fired in January as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
NFL seeks arbitration for Flores' racial discrimination suit

By Larry Neumeister Jun. 22, 2022 01:36 PM EDT

NFL to host general manager forum, QB coaching summit

Jun. 17, 2022 12:16 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL in partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame will hold its second annual Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and fifth annual...

NFL, NFL Films agree to donate footage to The HistoryMakers

Jun. 15, 2022 07:45 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and NFL Films will donate footage to The HistoryMakers, which has grown to become the nation’s largest African American video oral history...

Mike Brown comes off the bench to call out instructions in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at Fedex Forum in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. The Warriors lost to the Grizzlies 134-95. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Transformative year: Black coaches now lead 50% of NBA teams

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 02, 2022 01:53 AM EDT

FILE- free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick throws during halftime of an NCAA college football intrasquad spring game at Michigan, on April 2, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Kaepernick is getting his first chance to work out for an NFL team since last playing in the league in 2016 when he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Two people familiar with the situation said on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, that Kaepernick will work out for the Las Vegas Raiders. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
AP sources: Colin Kaepernick to work out for Raiders

By Josh Dubow May. 25, 2022 05:31 PM EDT

FILE - Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn talks during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, June 10, 2021. For 15 years, Aaron Glenn was an outstanding NFL cornerback, a team leader, and a coach in the making. He believes he's ready for a head-coaching gig. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Accelerator program overdue for NFL diversity. Will it help?

By Barry Wilner May. 25, 2022 03:52 PM EDT

FILE - Then-Miami Dolphins Executive Vice President of Football Administration Dawn Aponte stands on the field after a Miami Dolphins voluntary veterans football minicamp in Davie, Fla., April 26, 2016. Even though the NFL attempted to enhance opportunities for minority candidates to become head coaches in a league whose players are 70% black, there was a disconnect. Same thing for front office positions, although more improvement had been seen in recent years in that area. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Minority GM, coach candidates invited to meet NFL owners

By Barry Wilner May. 19, 2022 02:00 PM EDT

USA Today's Jarrett Bell wins writers' award for service

By The Associated Press May. 11, 2022 01:20 PM EDT
USA Today sports writer/columnist Jarrett Bell has won the Bill Nunn Jr. Award for journalistic contributions while covering pro football. Bell, who...

FILE - The National Football League logo appears on the 50 yard line for NFL Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The NFL is telling a judge there are multiple reasons why a lawsuit brought against it by three Black coaches who allege racist hiring practices should fail. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Flores lawyer: Unconscionable for Goodell to arbitrate suit

By Larry Neumeister May. 02, 2022 01:14 PM EDT

Jackson State football coach Deion Sanders speaks to the fans prior to the Jackson State's Blue and White Spring football game, an NCAA college football contest, Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Deion Sanders highlights HBCU prospects ahead of NFL draft

By Rob Maaddi Apr. 25, 2022 09:01 AM EDT

FILE - The National Football League logo appears on the 50 yard line for NFL Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The NFL is telling a judge there are multiple reasons why a lawsuit brought against it by three Black coaches who allege racist hiring practices should fail. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
NFL gives defense against Black coaches' discrimination suit

By Larry Neumeister Apr. 21, 2022 04:29 PM EDT

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions from reporters, at a press conference after the close of the NFL owner's meeting, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Attorneys General warn NFL to improve treatment of women

Apr. 06, 2022 01:23 PM EDT

New England Patriots football team head coach Bill Belichick answers questions from journalists at a coaches press availability during the NFL owner's meeting, Monday, March 28, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
NFL makes adjustments to Rooney Rule to aid minority hiring

By Barry Wilner Mar. 28, 2022 12:14 PM EDT

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talks to the media before an NFL football practice at Baptist Health Training Complex in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL alleging racist hiring practices. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP, File)
Brian Flores wants lawsuit against NFL heard in court

By The Associated Press Mar. 09, 2022 03:02 PM EST