Social diversity
FILE - Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden attends a news conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Las Vegas, in this Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, file photo. Jon Gruden is out as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after emails he sent before being hired in 2018 contained racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments. Gruden released a statement Monday night, Oct. 11, 2021, that he is stepping down after The New York Times reported that Gruden frequently used misogynistic and homophobic language directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell and others in the NFL.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Fallout continues from Gruden resignation over emails

By Rob Maaddi And Barry Wilner Oct. 12, 2021 07:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 19, 1948, file photo, Cleveland Browns fullback Marion Motley, right, stands with coach Paul Brown after a football game against Buffalo in Cleveland. Brown never saw color, and in 1946 he recruited Motley and Bill Willis for his Cleveland team in the All-America Football Conference. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine, File)
Forgotten First: A look at four (and more) NFL trailblazers

By Barry Wilner Sep. 14, 2021 02:11 PM EDT

FILE - Toronto Argonauts Damon Allen, left, and his brother Marcus Allen stand on the sidelines before a Canadian Football League football game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Toronto, in this Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, file photo. Three words resonate with Damon Allen when thinking of what his brother and NFL legend Marcus told him on multiple occasions during his storied career in the Canadian Football League. “Play within yourself,” Allen said. Now, Allen is hoping to share those words and his vast knowledge from a Hall of Fame career in the CFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, the organization his older brother starred for and led to a Super Bowl title in 1984. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press via AP)
Damon Allen hoping to launch coaching career with Raiders

By W.g. Ramirez Jul. 21, 2021 01:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addresses the media during a news conference for Sunday's NFL AFC championship football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Troy Vincent wrapped up the NFL’s three-day General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit with a passionate plea to anyone who still thinks there aren’t worthy Black candidates for head coaching positions. Vincent praised Houston Texans assistant coach Pep Hamilton, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson and several other coaches who gave impressive presentations during this week’s webinar. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
NFL highlights minority candidates at QB Coaching Summit

By Rob Maaddi Jun. 24, 2021 02:31 AM EDT

NFL will review Eugene Chung's allegations of discrimination

By Rob Maaddi May. 24, 2021 02:14 PM EDT
The NFL plans to review Eugene Chung’s allegations that a team official made discriminatory comments during his interview for a coaching position. ...

Hannah Gordon, chief administrative officer and general counsel for the San Francisco 49ers is photographed at the team's headquarters on May 14, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. During Women’s History Month, Gordon reflects on how she navigated a male-dominated space and where the sports world needs to go from here. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group via AP)
AP Interview: 49ers' Hannah Gordon works for women's equity

By Ragan Clark Mar. 29, 2021 05:37 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle walks on the field before an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Northern Illinois in Iowa City, Iowa. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer defended the hiring of former Iowa assistant Chris Doyle on Thursday, Feb. 11, 20201, by saying he “vetted him thoroughly along with our general manager and owner.” Iowa agreed to pay Doyle $1.1 million in a resignation agreement last June after scores of former players said he bullied and discriminated against them. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Column: Meyer should know by now he's not in college anymore

By Tim Dahlberg Feb. 15, 2021 03:06 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle walks on the field before an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Northern Illinois in Iowa City, Iowa. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer defended the hiring of former Iowa assistant Chris Doyle on Thursday, Feb. 11, 20201, by saying he “vetted him thoroughly along with our general manager and owner.” Iowa agreed to pay Doyle $1.1 million in a resignation agreement last June after scores of former players said he bullied and discriminated against them. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Jaguars split with accused racist strength coach Chris Doyle

Feb. 12, 2021 05:17 PM EST

This undated photo provided by the United States Coast Guard shows a U.S. Coast Guard cutter named for Emlen Tunnell, docked in Bollinger Shipyard, in Lockport, La. Tunnell, the first Black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, served in the Coast Guard during and after World War II, where he was credited with saving the lives of two shipmates in separate incidents. Now, a Coast Guard cutter and an athletic building on the Coast Guard Academy campus are being named in honor of the former New York Giants defensive back. (United States Coast Guard via AP)
Coast Guard honors Black veteran, NFL great Emlen Tunnell

By Pat Eaton-Robb Feb. 06, 2021 08:26 AM EST

Executive director of the NFL Players Association DeMaurice Smith speaks during a press conference ahead of Super Bowl LV, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
NFL players continue fighting for social justice, diversity

By Rob Maaddi Feb. 04, 2021 08:25 PM EST

NFL football commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a press conference ahead of Super Bowl 55, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Perry Knotts/NFL via AP)
The Latest: Goodell: NFL will look at rules for coach hiring

By The Associated Press Feb. 04, 2021 02:14 PM EST

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addresses the media during an NFL football news conference at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo. Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become head coaches in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Bieniemy doesn't ask to be 'poster boy' for Black coaches

By Josh Dubow Feb. 02, 2021 02:07 PM EST

In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians speaks during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (NFL via AP)
Black coordinators make Super Bowl history with Buccaneers

By Fred Goodall Feb. 02, 2021 02:44 AM EST

FILE - Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach David Culley works with wide receivers during an NFL football training camp practice in Owings Mills, Md., in this Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, file photo. David Culley has been hired as the coach of the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the hiring told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday night, Jan. 27, 2021, because the hiring hasn’t been announced. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
More interviews didn’t equal more minority hirings in NFL

By Rob Maaddi Jan. 29, 2021 04:49 PM EST

FILE - This is a 2020 file photo showing Trent Baalke of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team. The Jacksonville Jaguars formally named Baalke general manager on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo)
Column: NFL continues to pass on hiring new Black coaches

By Tim Dahlberg Jan. 21, 2021 04:55 PM EST

Terry Fontenot, left, and New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis watch Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Ala., in this Jan. 20, 2015, photo. The Atlanta Falcons have named Terry Fontenot the team’s general manager. The 40-year-old Fontenot becomes Atlanta’s first Black general manager after spending 16 seasons with division rival New Orleans. (Evan Woodbery/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Falcons name Saints' Terry Fontenot as general manager

By Charles Odum Jan. 19, 2021 08:40 AM EST

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Study: NFL league office ahead of teams in diversity hiring

By Aaron Beard Dec. 09, 2020 02:31 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks to offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Few minorities get chance at NFL stepping-stone QB coach job

By Dave Campbell And Josh Dubow Nov. 13, 2020 03:48 PM EST

Cyprus' Dimitris Christofi, centre, controls the ball during an international friendly soccer match between Cyprus and Czech Republic at AEK arena in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
The Latest: Ali to host Women's Sports Foundation awards

By The Associated Press Oct. 10, 2020 08:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 10, 2019, file photo, Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, left, and general manager Chris Grier walk off the field at NFL rookie camp in Davie, Fla. Flores and Grier are among the six Black coaches, general managers and high-ranking executives in the NFL. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
NFL players past and present want more action from owners

By Rob Maaddi Oct. 02, 2020 02:45 AM EDT