Racial and ethnic discrimination
FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2017, file photo, then-Philadelphia Eagles tight end Trey Burton (88) has a photo taken with former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Acho has enjoyed a spectacular rise off the field, beginning with his desire to take on racism. Acho celebrated his 30th birthday this week with the official release of his book: “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” His YouTube series with the same name has already amassed over 65 million views in five months.(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho tackles racism in new book

By Rob Maaddi Nov. 12, 2020 04:23 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2017, file photo, then-Philadelphia Eagles tight end Trey Burton (88) has a photo taken with former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Acho has enjoyed a spectacular rise off the field, beginning with his desire to take on racism. Acho celebrated his 30th birthday this week with the official release of his book: “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” His YouTube series with the same name has already amassed over 65 million views in five months.(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys 11/19/2017

Nov. 12, 2020 11:04 AM EST

The Michael Jordan statue stands in front of an I Voted banner on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in the atrium of the United Center, transformed for the first time into a super voting site in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Voting, activism replace practice, games in US sports world

By Howard Fendrich Nov. 03, 2020 06:43 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins (27) and New England Patriots' Devin McCourty answer questions in St. Paul, Minn. Jenkins has teamed with fellow NFL players to launch a venture capital fund, Broad Street Ventures on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. The fund focuses on late stage and growth stage technology and consumer products. Jenkins and co-founder Ralonda Johnson recruited additional NFL players and industry leaders to represent the fund. Among them are defensive backs Devin and Jason McCourty of the Patriots. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Malcolm Jenkins says therapy helps him cope with stress

By Rob Maaddi Oct. 14, 2020 04:43 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

New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty, right, is greeted by his twin brother, cornerback Jason McCourty, left, after Devin McCourty intercepted a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
The Latest: Seahawks' Diggs ejected for helmet-to-helmet hit

By The Associated Press Sep. 20, 2020 12:47 PM EDT

New York Giants players line up on the field for a video tribute to Black history before playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Steelers hold sign, many Giants kneel for national anthem

Sep. 14, 2020 07:51 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 file photo, fans stand for a presentation on social justice before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans in Kansas City, Mo. The NFL's new stance encouraging players to take a stand against racial injustice got its first test as some fans of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs booed during a moment of silence to promote the cause, touching off a fresh debate on how players should use their voice. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Chiefs, Texans booed as racial justice stand sparks outrage

By Heather Hollingsworth Sep. 11, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

Vikings to honor family of George Floyd at season opener

Sep. 11, 2020 01:17 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The family of George Floyd will attend the Minnesota Vikings' season opener against Green Bay. The stadium is about 3...

In this Feb. 2, 2020 file photo, a Kansas City Chiefs fan walks outside the stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs fans who file into Arrowhead stadium Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 for a masked and socially distanced start to the current season won't be wearing headdresses or face paint amid a nationwide push for racial justice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) File)
Chiefs nix headdresses, war paint to start NFL season

By Heather Hollingsworth And Dave Skretta Sep. 09, 2020 11:55 PM EDT

DeSean Jackson educating himself after anti-semitic posts

By Rob Maaddi Sep. 09, 2020 08:57 PM EDT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson says he’s been educating himself after facing backlash for sharing anti-Semitic posts on...

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick (7) and Eric Reid (35) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C. Four years after Kaepernick spoke out against racism and eventually lost his job for peacefully protesting, the NFL supports his fight and now encourages players to stand up for racial equality and social justice.(AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)
Now that NFL supports Colin Kaepernick's fight, what's next?

By Rob Maaddi Sep. 08, 2020 03:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones waits for the team's NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wants his teammates to decide for themselves whether to protest during the national anthem. Defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford says they have the “green light” to do so. Jones hasn't said in so many words, but it appears his hard-line stance over his players standing during the anthem has eased amid a national reckoning over racial justice. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Cowboys players ponder kneeling during national anthem

By Schuyler Dixon Sep. 06, 2020 02:29 PM EDT

Roger Goodell: 'The NFL stands with the Black community'

By Rob Maaddi Sep. 01, 2020 09:12 PM EDT
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated the league’s support for players fighting for racial justice and protesting police violence. ...

NFL reveals more in-game social and racial justice plans

Aug. 31, 2020 02:27 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL end zones will be inscribed this season with two slogans: “It Takes All Of Us” on one end line, “End Racism” on the other. ...

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, center, watches the team as guard David DeCastro, bottom warms up and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, left , walks by during an NFL football training camp practice, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
NFL teams huddling up to devise plans for social change

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Aug. 29, 2020 06:33 PM EDT

Men from Milwaukee wear "We're WI Men" T-shirts as they attend the March on Washington, Friday Aug. 28, 2020, in Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Athlete power: ‘Shut up and play' is tossed from the game

By Eddie Pells Aug. 29, 2020 12:51 PM EDT

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, right, talks with special teams coach Craig Aukerman during NFL football training camp Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, Pool)
No football talk as Titans safety sticks to racial injustice

By Teresa M. Walker Aug. 28, 2020 05:44 PM EDT

In a screenshot from a Zoom call, Lamonte Winston talks Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Winston had difficult conversations with players who wanted to follow Colin Kaepernick’s lead and were afraid to lose their jobs if they protested against racial injustice. He’s committed to help athletes take steps to effectuate change. Wilson, who previously worked in player development and scouting with the Raiders and Chiefs, has joined the nonprofit organization, Dedication To Community, as national director of its sports division to lead efforts to grow relationships between teams, athletes and communities. (AP Photo)
NFL mentor leads program to help players leverage platforms

By Rob Maaddi Aug. 27, 2020 10:49 AM EDT

File-Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Rick Mirer (3) is sacked for a seven-yard-loss by Kevin Henry (76) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Wash., Sunday, Dec. 26, 1993. Dementia tests in the NFL concussion litigation allow doctors to use different baseline standards for Black and white retired players, making it more difficult for Blacks to show injury and qualify for awards, lawyers for two ex-players argued in court filings Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Lawyers for ex-players Henry and Najeh Davenport said their clients were denied awards “based on a discriminatory testing regime" that weighs sociological factors including race. Both men would have qualified for awards had race not been considered, they said. (AP Photos/Gary Stewart, File)
Lawyers: NFL concussion awards discriminate against Blacks

By Maryclaire Dale Aug. 25, 2020 05:37 PM EDT