Race and ethnicity
FILE - The flags of Mexico and the United States cover the field before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, in Mexico City. The NFL returns to Mexico City on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, when Arizona Cardinals play the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)
Latinos love football, but numbers lag at NFL, college level

By David Brandt Nov. 15, 2022 12:36 PM EST

FILE 0 Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson stands on the field during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. othing can slow the NFL’s popularity, but there are significant, unsavory off-field issues that are looming over the league as the season heads to the second half: multiple investigations of Commanders owner Daniel Snyder; the suspension and pending return of Browns QB Deshaun Watson; the lawsuit brought by Steelers assistant coach Brian Flores. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Snyder’s status, Watson’s ban, Flores’ lawsuit hang over NFL

By Howard Fendrich Nov. 10, 2022 02:23 PM EST

FILE - Rapper Kanye West speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Washington. Kanye West was escorted out of the California headquarters of athletic shoemaker Skechers Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 after he showed up unannounced. Skechers says West, also known as Ye, also engaged in unauthorized filming at its corporate headquarters in Manhattan Beach and was escorted out by two executives. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Patriots' Kraft, school statements denounce antisemitism

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Oct. 30, 2022 01:21 PM EDT

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey left, celebrates his sack on Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker with defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
NFL's Donald, NBA's Brown end their deals with Ye's agency

By Greg Beacham Oct. 25, 2022 08:23 PM EDT

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals' Josh Tupou (68) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cincinnati. Tagovailoa suffered a second frightening injury in five days when he was carted off the field Thursday. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Dolphins host Steelers in Brian Flores' return to Miami

By Alanis Thames Oct. 20, 2022 04:05 PM EDT

FILE - Los Angeles Rams cornerback Decobie Durant (14), who played at South Carolina State, warms up before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. Four HBCU players were drafted this year, three more than the previous two years combined. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
NFL keeping watch on return of HBCUs to national prominence

By Dave Skretta Oct. 11, 2022 12:37 PM EDT

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 - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is shown before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver. Bieniemy is still waiting to land a head coaching job after interviewing with 14 teams over the last four years. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Hiring minority coaches in the NFL comes down to owners

By Rob Maaddi Aug. 23, 2022 05:43 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

FILE - Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross gestures at the end of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, on Oct. 24, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The NFL has suspended Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and fined him $1.5 million for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton following a six-month investigation stemming from Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit against the league. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, FIle)
NFL suspends Dolphins owner for tampering with Brady, Payton

By Rob Maaddi Aug. 02, 2022 12:28 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

Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant Brian Flores, right, watches as the team goes through drills during an NFL football practice, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Flores focused on new job with Steelers, not NFL lawsuit

By Will Graves Jun. 08, 2022 01:57 PM EDT

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 - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick arrives for a workout for NFL football scouts and media in Riverdale, Ga. 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/Todd Kirkland, File)
McDaniels mum on Kaepernick workout for Raiders

By W.g. Ramirez May. 26, 2022 05:52 PM 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 - SMU wide receiver Danny Gray runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Gray found the ideal workout partner before the draft to prepare him to play with the 49ers' strong-armed quarterback Trey Lance. It just happened to be a former 49ers quarterback known for his his ability to throw with velocity. “I worked out with Colin Kaepernick and he has kind of like a bazooka, too," Gray said Thursday, May 12. "That workout was pretty great. So I think I’m. I think I’m up for the task.” (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
49ers WR hopes Kaepernick workout prepares him for Lance

By Josh Dubow May. 12, 2022 08:10 PM 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)
Flores lawyer: Unconscionable for Goodell to arbitrate suit

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