AFL files EEOC complaint over 49ers DEI hiring
America First Legal filed a civil-rights complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging the San Francisco 49ers use unlawful race- and sex-based hiring practices under Title VII. The filing cites demographic-targeted pipelines, race-restricted employee resource groups, and participation in minority-only coaching fellowships; Fox News Digital said the 49ers did not immediately comment. AFL previously filed a similar complaint against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the action comes amid Trump administration executive orders targeting DEI in the private sector.
đ Key Facts
- Filer: America First Legal; Forum: EEOC; Target: San Francisco 49ers
- Alleged practices: demographic-targeted hiring pipelines, race-restricted ERGs, minority-only coaching fellowships
- Statute invoked: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; 49ers have been contacted for comment
đ Relevant Data
In 2023, over 53 percent of NFL players were Black or African American.
Share of NFL players by race 2023 â Statista
The Black population in the United States was 14.4% in 2023.
Facts About the U.S. Black Population â Pew Research Center
From 2000 through 2024, 18% of new NFL head coaches were Black.
Black NFL players share on number of Black coaches in survey â ESPN
At the start of the 2024 season, non-white coaches made up about 44.3% of the NFL's coaching staffs.
NFL coaches diversity report 2024: Gains at head ... â USA Today
Research has shown that Black coaches are less likely to be promoted to head coaching jobs than their White counterparts.
The illusion of equal opportunity for minority NFL coaches â The Conversation