Author: Mike Freeman, USA TODAY

Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib came out as gay in June. Months later, his story remains one of the most important of the year.

John Madden will be remembered not just as a coach. Or a great broadcaster. Or the namesake of a video game. But as a legend who did all three things.

Bucs coach Bruce Arians has welcomed back Antonio Brown after he was suspended for faking vaccination status. In doing so, Arians compromised himself.

There’s no way the Patriots should be 9-4 and top seed in AFC. But Bill Belichick’s coaching makes Super Bowl showdown with Tom Brady a possibility.

The attack on transgendered athletes started years ago, and continues, with extremist pieces of legislation aimed at keeping trans kids out of sports.

Running back Derrick Henry represents a past the NFL should move away from, and receiver Calvin Ridley a future the sport should embrace.

The NFL’s taunting rule is ineffective, silly and bad for the sport. It’s also something else: The NFL’s latest attempt to control its Black players.

Herschel Walker is running for Senate in Georgia. In a normal world, he’d have no shot. But in this divided country, he has a fighting chance.

Whether it’s a Packers WR making a racist gesture or disgusting remarks toward Shohei Ohtani, sports is seeing more incidents of anti-Asian hate.