Race and ethnicity
FILE - SMU wide receiver Danny Gray runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Gray found the ideal workout partner before the draft to prepare him to play with the 49ers' strong-armed quarterback Trey Lance. It just happened to be a former 49ers quarterback known for his his ability to throw with velocity. “I worked out with Colin Kaepernick and he has kind of like a bazooka, too," Gray said Thursday, May 12. "That workout was pretty great. So I think I’m. I think I’m up for the task.” (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
49ers WR hopes Kaepernick workout prepares him for Lance

By Josh Dubow May. 12, 2022 08:10 PM EDT

FILE - The National Football League logo appears on the 50 yard line for NFL Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The NFL is telling a judge there are multiple reasons why a lawsuit brought against it by three Black coaches who allege racist hiring practices should fail. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Flores lawyer: Unconscionable for Goodell to arbitrate suit

By Larry Neumeister May. 02, 2022 01:14 PM EDT

FILE - The National Football League logo appears on the 50 yard line for NFL Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The NFL is telling a judge there are multiple reasons why a lawsuit brought against it by three Black coaches who allege racist hiring practices should fail. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
NFL gives defense against Black coaches' discrimination suit

By Larry Neumeister Apr. 21, 2022 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton talks to reporters after practice at the NFL football team's facility in Berea, Ohio Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013. Two coaches joined Brian Flores on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers. The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
2 more Black coaches sue NFL alleging racial discrimination

By Larry Neumeister Apr. 07, 2022 01:04 PM EDT

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions from reporters, at a press conference after the close of the NFL owner's meeting, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Attorneys General warn NFL to improve treatment of women

Apr. 06, 2022 01:23 PM EDT

New England Patriots football team head coach Bill Belichick answers questions from journalists at a coaches press availability during the NFL owner's meeting, Monday, March 28, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
NFL makes adjustments to Rooney Rule to aid minority hiring

By Barry Wilner Mar. 28, 2022 12:14 PM EDT

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talks to the media before an NFL football practice at Baptist Health Training Complex in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL alleging racist hiring practices. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP, File)
Brian Flores wants lawsuit against NFL heard in court

By The Associated Press Mar. 09, 2022 03:02 PM EST

FILE - Former NFL players Ken Jenkins, right, and Clarence Vaughn III, center right, along with their wives, Amy Lewis, center, and Brooke Vaughn, left, carry tens of thousands of petitions demanding equal treatment for everyone involved in the settlement of concussion claims against the NFL, to the federal courthouse in Philadelphia, Friday, May 14, 2021. Black retired football players who were denied payments for dementia in the NFL's $1 billion concussion settlement can seek to be retested or have their claims rescored to eliminate racial bias in the testing and payout formula, under a revised plan finalized Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Judge approves fix to stem race bias in NFL concussion deal

By Maryclaire Dale Mar. 04, 2022 12:20 PM EST

Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton reacts to a play during an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Shurtleff)
Study: Percentage of Black college coaches remains low

By Steve Reed Mar. 03, 2022 03:13 PM EST

FILE- Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, on Oct. 31, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Pittsburgh Steelers hired the former Miami Dolphins coach on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, to serve as a senior defensive assistant. The hiring comes less than three weeks after Flores sued the NFL and three teams over alleged racist hiring practices following his dismissal by Miami in January. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Flores hired to Steelers staff; lawsuit against NFL proceeds

By Will Graves Feb. 19, 2022 02:08 PM EST

The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Brian Flores, who is suing the NFL for racial discrimination, as an assistant coach

Feb. 19, 2022 01:51 PM EST
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Brian Flores, who is suing the NFL for racial discrimination, as an assistant coach. ...

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Goodell, civil rights leaders discuss diversity in hiring

Feb. 17, 2022 09:50 PM EST

NFL hires former Attorney General Lynch in Flores lawsuit

Feb. 16, 2022 05:32 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has hired a law firm that includes former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to defend it and its teams in Brian Flores' race discrimination...

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)
Why has the 'Rooney Rule' not produced more Black coaches?

By Will Graves Feb. 11, 2022 04:46 AM EST

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talks to the media before an NFL football practice at Baptist Health Training Complex in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL alleging racist hiring practices. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP, File)
Black NFL coaches lament hiring policies that fall short

By Will Graves Feb. 11, 2022 04:29 AM EST

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Analysis: Diversity needed at all levels of pro football

By Barry Wilner Feb. 10, 2022 02:36 AM EST

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Column: Goodell's Super Bowl show a familiar one

By Tim Dahlberg Feb. 09, 2022 07:06 PM EST

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is seen before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Goodell says league won’t tolerate racism or discrimination

By Barry Wilner Feb. 09, 2022 05:45 PM EST

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Latest: Goodell says league 'won’t tolerate racism'

By The Associated Press Feb. 09, 2022 02:43 PM EST

New Houston Texans NFL football team head coach Lovie Smith speaks at an introductory press conference, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Smith becomes 1 of 5 minority head coaches with Texans hire

By Kristie Rieken Feb. 08, 2022 04:21 PM EST