Study: Solid progress in NFL’s diversity hiring

The NFL continues to make incremental, widespread progress in its diversity hiring practices, according to a report.

Thursday’s annual report card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida gave the NFL an overall grade of B-plus, which is the highest mark for the league since the study began in 1988. The league received a B-plus mark for racial hiring and a B for gender hiring.

There are still a few areas of concern — particularly in the ownership ranks — but TIDES director Adrien Bouchet said Thursday that the report is largely good news.

“It’s the most positive NFL report since we started doing them,” Bouchet said. “The league has made major strides over the past decade, and particularly the past few years.”

Among the highlights: There were nine GMs who were people of color at the start of the 2023 season — 30% of the league.

Also, the overall percentage of people of color who have an NFL assistant coaching position rose to 43.6%, which is up from last year, and has improved from 31.8% in 2013, which earned an A-plus grade.

The major trouble spot is at the top. The NFL got an F for the racial diversity of its team owners and a D-plus for the group’s gender diversity.

Baseball: Free agent pitcher Tyler Mahle signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Rangers, ESPN reported. Mahle, 29, made five starts for the Twins last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May.

College football: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe plans to return for his senior seaso.

NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo exchanged heated words with members of the Pacers staff and raced toward their locker room Wednesday as the teams squared off in a hallway in a dispute over the game ball following the Bucks star’s franchise-record 64-point performance in a 140-126 victory at home.