George Floyd
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

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

Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett (81) scores against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Latest: Allen's 15th TD one shy of Russell, Manning mark

By The Associated Press Oct. 04, 2020 12:38 PM 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

Players kneel in remembrance of Rep.. John Lewis, D-Ga., during the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Racial injustice themes fill empty NFL stadiums

By Jimmy Golen Sep. 13, 2020 02:49 PM EDT

Baltimore Ravens warm up during an NFL football training camp practice in an empty stadium, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Baltimore, Md.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)
The Latest: Only 1 stadium had fans on NFL's opening Sunday

By The Associated Press Sep. 13, 2020 02:16 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

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes as he is pressured by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs begin title defense with 34-20 victory over Texans

By Dave Skretta Sep. 10, 2020 11:28 PM EDT

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

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

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

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., left, performs a drill as teammates Chris Conley (18) and Terry Godwin (14) look on during an NFL football workout, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jaguars' Conley calls on NFL QBs to lead charge for change

By Mark Long Aug. 27, 2020 06:02 PM EDT

An empty field is seen at the New York Jets NFL football team's training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. The New York Jets canceled their practice in an apparent response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. The Jets provided no immediate details on their decision to not practice. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
9 NFL teams cancel practice in response to Blake shooting

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Aug. 27, 2020 10:21 AM EDT

New York Jets safety Bradley McDougald (30) during a practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020. Within the confines of the team's facility, McDougald is a respected pro football player whose main concern is stopping the offense. When he heads home and turns onto the main road just a few hundred yards away, he goes on the defense. His guard goes up. Just as it has most of his life. “Guys are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” McDougald said Wednesday during a video conference call. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
NFL players concerned, 'sick and tired' of racial injustice

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Aug. 26, 2020 06:04 PM EDT

Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers addresses the media with his teammates outside the Lions NFL football camp practice facility, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Allen Park, Mich. The players were reacting to the recent shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., on Sunday. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Lions skip practice after discussing shooting of Jacob Blake

By Larry Lage Aug. 25, 2020 03:03 PM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer watches from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Orlando Magic Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Wisconsin sports teams speak out after police shooting

By Steve Megargee Aug. 24, 2020 08:35 PM EDT

New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins (27) waits for a play during NFL football training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, La., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Jenkins sees historically significant opportunities before him with both the contending New Orleans Saints and with a racial justice movement that has gained precipitous momentum in recent months. (David Grunfeld/The Advocate via AP, Pool)
Saints' Jenkins primed for campaigns on and off the field

By Brett Martel Aug. 20, 2020 07:28 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones waits for the team's NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. Jones sidestepped the question of whether he would change his policy requiring players for the Cowboys to stand during the national anthem. Still, the owner who has taken the hardest line among his NFL counterparts against protesting racial injustice during “The Star-Spangled Banner” did acknowledge a changing social tide after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Jerry Jones suggests wiggle room over Cowboys' anthem policy

By Schuyler Dixon Aug. 13, 2020 06:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick arrives for a workout for NFL football scouts and media in Riverdale, Ga. The U.S. Navy is investigating a video in which military work dogs attacked a "Colin Kaepernick stand-in" during a demonstration at a Navy Seal Museum fundraiser. The event happened last year at the museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, but the video resurfaced over the weekend. On Sunday, the U.S. Navy said in a statement that it appears no active duty personnel were involved. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)
Navy investigates video of dogs attacking Kaepernick fill-in

Associated Press Aug. 03, 2020 11:07 AM EDT