The Paradox of Integration: Racial Composition of NFL Positions From 1960 to 2020

Authors

Guadalupe Marquez-Velarde, Utah State UniversityFollow
Rachel Grashow, Harvard Medical School
Christy M. Glass, Utah State UniversityFollow
Anne M. Blaschke, University of Massachusetts
Gary Gillette, Hidden Game Sports
Herman A. Taylor, Morehouse School of Medicine
Alicia J. Whittington, Harvard Medical School

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Publisher

Sage Publications, Inc.

Publication Date

7-7-2023

First Page

1

Last Page

19

Abstract

As highly visible organizations, professional sports teams provide a context to examine the reproduction of racial hierarchies over time. This study analyzes racial segregation/integration in the NFL between 1960 and 2020. Using data from 20,357 players, we examine the racial composition of positions in the field and how these patterns influence career length. Our analysis reveals three distinct patterns of segregation/integration over time: cumulative hyper-segregation in high-risk positions, durable segregation in high-prestige positions, and integration in hybrid positions. We consider the implications of these findings for theory and research on racialized organizations as well as for the lives of players.

Recommended Citation

Marquez-Velarde, Guadalupe, Rachel Grashow, Christy Glass, Ann Blaschke, Gary Gillette, Herman Taylor, and Alicia Whittington. 2023. “Racial Integration in the NFL? Analyzing Race and Position 1960-2020.” Sociology of Race & Ethnicity. https://doi.org/10.1177/23326492231182597