Racial and ethnic discrimination
FILE - Driver Bubba Wallace wears a Black Lives Matter shirt as he prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Martinsville, Va., in this Wednesday, June 10, 2020, file photo. In a most unusual year already thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic, many athletes took unprecedented steps when a nationwide reckoning on race spilled into the streets of American cities after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, while in Minneapolis police custody. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020

By Cliff Brunt Dec. 29, 2020 01:41 PM EST

NFL stars joined students in virtual chats about racism

By Rob Maaddi Dec. 25, 2020 01:52 AM EST
For several NFL stars, speaking out against social injustice meant speaking to youngsters about racism. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce,...

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, file photo, Curtis Flowers flanked by sister Priscilla Ward, right, exits the Winston Choctaw Regional Correctional Facility in Louisville, Miss. The NFL says it is honoring Flowers, a Black man from Mississippi who was imprisoned more than 22 years. He was freed in late 2019, months after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the last of his several convictions in a quadruple murder case. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
NFL honors Mississippi man freed after 22 years in prison

By Emily Wagster Pettus Dec. 24, 2020 03:06 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11/29/2020

Nov. 29, 2020 04:16 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)
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