NFL has 'steep hill to climb to make amends' for race-norming in concussion settlement program: Senator

A powerful lawmaker says efforts by the NFL to address alleged racial bias in its concussion settlement program are falling short of what is owed to Black former players.

A powerful lawmaker says efforts by the NFL to address alleged racial bias in its concussion settlement program are falling short of what is owed to Black former players. In comments sent to the office of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on June 28, league officials outlined their plan to reevaluate claims for compensation that may have been affected by a race-based formula sometimes used to measure cognitive impairment, which critics say has skewed payouts along racial lines. Wyden told ABC News that while the league's current stance appears to represent "an improvement" from its previous position, much more transparency is needed. "The NFL has a steep hill to climb to make amends for its racist policies that denied Black former players benefits they were owed and to give some straight answers about how the policy was implemented in the first place," Wyden said in a statement. "It is unacceptable that the league refuses to reveal how many players were denied benefits as a result of its race-based formula."