Social diversity
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis watches the Steelers play against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, in Pittsburgh. The Hall of Fame running back has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against a Pittsburgh company he had promoted for its commitment to diversity. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis files racial discrimination suit

By The Associated Press Aug. 20, 2020 04:36 PM EDT

Milwaukee Brewers' Devin Williams throws during an intrasquad game Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at Miller Park in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
MLB players taking visible stance on social justice

By David Brandt Jul. 22, 2020 02:22 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2019, file photo, Toronto FC soccer player Justin Morrow speaks to the media during an end of season availability in Toronto. A group of African American Major League Soccer players have formed a coalition to address systematic racism in their communities and bring about change within the league. The coalition is the result of an Instagram group formed after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which spawned a wave of nationwide protests against racism and policy brutality. Started by Toronto FC defender Justin Morrow, the group grew to some 70 MLS players, who decided to act and the Black Players Coalition of MLS was born. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Black Players for Change lead protest at MLS is Back tourney

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 09, 2020 02:25 AM EDT

In this combination photo, filmmaker Ava DuVernay appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Feb. 9, 2020, left, and Colin Kaepernick attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 6, 2019. Kaepernick is joining with Emmy-winning filmmaker DuVernay on a Netflix miniseries about the teenage roots of the former NFL player’s activism. Neftlix says the limited series, titled “Colin in Black & White,” will examine Kaepernick’s high school years. (AP Photo)
Netflix series to dramatize Kaepernick's path to activism

Jun. 29, 2020 12:50 PM EDT

In this image made from video, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy speaks on a Zoom call Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The biggest takeaway following the NFL's two-day quarterback coaching summit aimed at improving the league's diversity, is that there's no shortage of qualified minority candidates waiting for opportunities to be head coaches and coordinators.(Rob Maaddi/Zoom via AP)
NFL's coaching summit highlights minority candidates

By Rob Maaddi Jun. 26, 2020 02:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 2, 2014, file photo, Bobby Mitchell is introduced before the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Fest at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. The Washington Redskins will retire the jersey of Mitchell and rename the lower level of FedEx Field for him, replacing former owner George Preston Marshall. The team, which is being pressured to change its name during the ongoing national reckoning over racism, said Saturday, June 20, 2020, that the No. 49 will become on the second in the franchise's 88-year history to be retired. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
Redskins retire Mitchell's jersey, rename stadium level

By Barry Wilner Jun. 20, 2020 12:54 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, then-Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Malcolm Jenkins warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins will join CNN as a contributor focusing on racial and social justice, the network announced Monday, June 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Saints' Jenkins joins CNN as social justice contributor

Jun. 15, 2020 12:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, United States' Megan Rapinoe, right, kneels next to teammates Christen Press (12), Ali Krieger (11), Crystal Dunn (16) and Ashlyn Harris (22) as the national anthem is played before the team's exhibition soccer match against the Netherlands in Atlanta. The U.S. women's national team wants the U.S. Soccer Federation to repeal the anthem policy it instituted after Rapinoe started kneeling during the national anthem. The U.S. women's team also wants the federation to state publicly that the policy was wrong and issue an apology to the team's black players and supporters. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
US Soccer repeals rule that banned kneeling during anthem

By Anne M. Peterson Jun. 10, 2020 08:00 PM EDT

NFL's QB coaching summit set for virtual version in 3rd year

Jun. 10, 2020 01:17 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and the Black College Football Hall of Fame will hold a virtual version of their quarterback coaching summit, a third-year project...

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2020, file photo, Cleveland Browns NFL Football head coach Kevin Stefanski answers a question during a news conference at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. As part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, the Cleveland Browns have welcomed six young coaches, including two women and former NFL player Leonard Hankerson, to take part in the final three weeks of their offseason program. "The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is the type of program that can be very impactful to the coaching hiring process,” said Browns first-year coach Kevin Stefanski. (AP Photo/Phil Long, File)
Browns welcome 6 coaches as part of diversity program

By Tom Withers Jun. 09, 2020 03:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2017, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions during a season ticket member fan forum before practice at the Cleveland Browns NFL football team's training camp facility in Berea, Ohio. Several NFL teams are reopening their training facilities Tuesday, May 19, 2020, while many are prohibited by government restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Roger Goodell gave the 32 clubs the go-ahead for limited reopenings as long as state and local municipalities allow them. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Goodell says NFL was wrong for not listening to players

Jun. 05, 2020 08:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, middle, kneels during the national anthem before the team's NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers, in San Diego. When Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to take a stand against police brutality, racial injustice and social inequality, he was vilified by people who considered it an offense against the country, the flag and the military. Nearly four years later, it seems more people are starting to side with Kaepernick’s peaceful protest and now are calling out those who don’t understand the intent behind his action. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Colin Kaepernick has more support now, still long way to go

By Rob Maaddi Jun. 05, 2020 05:12 PM EDT

Several hundred demonstrators march peacefully as they protest in Addison, Texas, Thursday, June 4, 2020. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Players send video message to NFL about racial inequality

Jun. 04, 2020 10:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2008, file photo, Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy watches from the sideline as his team plays the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Cleveland. Dungy is the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl and has been a strong advocate of more diversity in coaching hires. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
AP sources: Expanded Rooney Rule to require more interviews

By Barry Wilner May. 18, 2020 06:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2019, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy watches players before the team's AFC championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs have perhaps the most dynamic offense in the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers feature one of the stingiest defenses in the league. The men in charge of the units got interviews for head coaching but were passed over. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Many are outraged that teams didn't hire Bieniemy or Saleh

By Rob Maaddi Jan. 30, 2020 02:42 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2018 file photo, Allison and Bertrum Jean pose as they hold a portrait of their late son Botham Shem Jean at their home in Castries, St. Lucia. A public service announcement honoring the life of Jean, who was killed in his living room by Amber Guyger, a white Dallas police officer who said she mistook his apartment as her own, will air during the Super Bowl next month to highlight the impact of police violence, the family's lawyer said. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News via AP, File)
NFL initiative yields PSA on man killed by Dallas officer

Jan. 23, 2020 06:01 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2009, file photo, Peter Fonda, poses atop a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Glendale, Calif. Fonda, the son of a Hollywood legend who became a movie star in his own right both writing and starring in counterculture classics like "Easy Rider," has died. His family says in a statement that Fonda died Aug. 16, 2019, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 79. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 23, 2019 10:13 AM EST

FILE - In this May 15, 2019, file photo, Juice WRLD performs in concert during his "Death Race for Love Tour" at The Skyline Stage at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. The Chicago-area rapper, whose real name is Jarad A. Higgins, was pronounced dead Dec. 8 after a "medical emergency'' at Chicago's Midway International Airport, according to authorities. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 16, 2019 12:47 PM EST

File-This Dec. 22, 2012, file photo shows Pittsburgh Steelers chairman emeritus Dan Rooney attending the unveiling of a marker commemorating the 40th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception" at the sight of the catch on the Northside of Pittsburgh. In 2003, the NFL had three minority head coaches: future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards and Marvin Lewis. In the 12 previous seasons, there had been six. Total. Considering that the majority of the players in the league 16 years ago were minorities, that imbalance was enormous. And disturbing. And, frankly, it was unfair. Paul Tagliabue, then the NFL commissioner, put together a committee that established the "Rooney Rule," which requires all teams with coaching and front office vacancies to interview minority candidates. The rule, long overdue, was named for Rooney, then president of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the overseer of that committee. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
NFL At 100: Rooney Rule has its positives and its faults

By Barry Wilner Dec. 06, 2019 12:45 PM EST

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
NFL earns lowest score for racial, gender hiring in 15 years

By Steve Reed Oct. 30, 2019 02:08 PM EDT