Social diversity
FILE - Chicago Bears new NFL football team general manager Ryan Poles speaks during a news conference at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. Poles is among six general managers of color picked to fill the past 12 openings going back to early 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
GM hires give NFL bright spot in diversity, but work remains

By Schuyler Dixon Aug. 24, 2022 01:40 PM EDT

Rob Walton, back, joins his daughter Carrie Walton Penner, center, and limited shareholder Mellody Hobson, all members of the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group that purchased the Denver Broncos, during a news conference at the NFL football team's headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Broncos sport NFL's richest, most diverse ownership group

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 10, 2022 06:58 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 - Ohio State's Bill Willis, who went on to a stellar pro career with the Cleveland Browns, poses in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1944. During a field trip, Wednesday, June, 15, 2022, the Browns listened intently to a presentation about Browns Hall of Famers Willis and Marion Motley, who along with Kenny Washington and Woodie Stroke broke pro football's color barrier in the 1940s. (AP Photo/File)
Browns learn of 'forgotten' players at Hall of Fame tour

By Tom Withers Jun. 15, 2022 05:16 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 - 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)
NFL gives defense against Black coaches' discrimination suit

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

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur speaks to reporters during a coaches press availability at the NFL owner's meeting, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Head coaches laud NFL's diversity moves at league meetings

By Barry Wilner Mar. 29, 2022 02:03 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

Sports analytics crowd turns to data to tackle diversity

By Jimmy Golen Mar. 05, 2022 05:12 PM EST
BOSTON (AP) — Number crunchers have vanquished starting pitching and brought a barrage of 3-pointers to basketball. Now they're taking on a more...

Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton reacts to a play during an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Shurtleff)
Study: Percentage of Black college coaches remains low

By Steve Reed Mar. 03, 2022 03:13 PM EST

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Goodell, civil rights leaders discuss diversity in hiring

Feb. 17, 2022 09:50 PM EST

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)
Why has the 'Rooney Rule' not produced more Black coaches?

By Will Graves Feb. 11, 2022 04:46 AM EST

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)
Black NFL coaches lament hiring policies that fall short

By Will Graves Feb. 11, 2022 04:29 AM EST

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Latest: Goodell says league 'won’t tolerate racism'

By The Associated Press Feb. 09, 2022 02:43 PM EST

New Houston Texans NFL football team head coach Lovie Smith speaks at an introductory press conference, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Smith becomes 1 of 5 minority head coaches with Texans hire

By Kristie Rieken Feb. 08, 2022 04:21 PM EST

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Fired Miami Dolphins Coach Brian Flores sued the NFL and three of its teams Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 saying racist hiring practices by the league have left it racially segregated and managed like a plantation. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Pro Bowl players echo concerns brought by Flores' lawsuit

By Greg Beacham Feb. 05, 2022 08:50 PM EST

FILE - Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, left, walks off the field next to coach Brian Flores after the team's loss to the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football game Oct. 24, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Fired Dolphins coach Flores sued the NFL and three teams Tuesday, Feb. 1, over alleged racist hiring practices for coaches and general managers, saying the league remains “rife with racism” even as it publicly condemns it. According to the lawsuit, Ross told Flores he would pay him $100,000 for every loss during the coach’s first season because he wanted the club to “tank” so it could get the draft’s top pick. Messages left with the Dolphins seeking comment were not immediately returned. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, File)
NFL to bolster inclusion policies, probe tanking allegations

By Arnie Stapleton Feb. 05, 2022 11:58 AM EST