African-Americans
NFL hires first Black female game official, Maia Chaka

Mar. 05, 2021 10:52 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history. She will work games during the 2021 season. ...

Irv Cross poses at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., in this April 8, 1999, file photo. Cross, the former NFL defensive back who became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. He was 81. The Philadelphia Eagles, the team Cross spent six of his nine NFL seasons with, said Cross' son, Matthew, confirmed his father died near his home in Roseville, Minnesota. The cause of death was not provided. (Ann Heisenfelt/Star Tribune via AP)
Irv Cross, NFL player, pioneer Black analyst, dies at 81

Feb. 28, 2021 10:25 PM 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)
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)
Goodell: Many lessons NFL learned in 2020 will carry forward

By Rob Maaddi And Barry Wilner Feb. 04, 2021 03:44 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

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jan. 28, 2021 12:32 PM EST
Feb. 3 1944 — Syd Howe of the Detroit Red Wings scores six goals in a 12-6 victory over the New York Rangers. Howe is the first player to...

Full-year coaching intern Jennifer King, right, works with Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) before the team's NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington's King 1st Black female assistant position coach

By The Associated Pres Jan. 26, 2021 11:15 AM EST

Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves reacts Saturday, July 21, 1973, in Atlanta after hitting 700th career home run against the Philadelphia Phillies. (AP Photo)
Aaron's death prompts call to change name: Braves to Hammers

By Paul Newberry Jan. 23, 2021 02:29 PM EST

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

FILE - This is a 1970 file photo showing Chicago Bears football player Gale Sayers. Sports in 2020 was an unending state of mourning. Football lost a big piece of its heart: Don Shula, Gale Sayers, Paul Hornung, Bobby Mitchell.(AP Photo/File)
From Kobe to Maradona, a year of staggering losses in sports

By Fred Lief Dec. 29, 2020 12:54 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,...

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) lands in the end zone for a touchdown against the Denver Broncosduring the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Rams players award $750,000 to social justice programs

By The Associated Press Dec. 04, 2020 11:37 AM 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

This image provided by the Wasserman Media Group shows Brett Peterson, who was hired as an assistant general manager by the Florida Panthers NHL hockey club on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (Wasserman Media Group via AP)
Panthers hire Peterson, NHL's first Black assistant GM

By Stephen Whyno Nov. 17, 2020 05:22 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 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 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