Roger Goodell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roger Goodell
Goodell in 2023
6th Commissioner of the NFL
Incumbent
Assumed office September 1, 2006
Preceded by	Paul Tagliabue
Personal details
Born	Roger Stokoe Goodell (1959-02-19) February 19, 1959 (age 66) Jamestown, New York, U.S.
Spouse	Jane Skinner ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	2
Parent	Charles Goodell (father)
Relatives	Samuel Skinner (father-in-law) Andy Goodell (cousin)
Education	Washington and Jefferson College (BA)

Roger Stokoe Goodell is an American businessman who has been the leader, or commissioner, of the National Football League (NFL) since 2006. He was born on February 19, 1959.

He started working for the NFL in 1982 as an intern in the main office in New York. This job was under the commissioner at the time, Pete Rozelle. Roger Goodell got this position by sending many letters to the NFL office and its 28 teams. In 1983, he worked for the New York Jets as an intern. He then returned to the NFL office in 1984, helping with public relations.

In 1987, Goodell became an assistant to the president of the American Football Conference, Lamar Hunt. Under Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, he took on many roles in football and business. By December 2001, he was the NFL's executive vice president and chief operating officer. In this role, Goodell was in charge of how the league's football games and officials worked. He also managed business parts of the league. He led NFL Ventures, which handles the league's media, marketing, stadium building, and future plans.

Goodell helped with important talks between the NFL players' union (NFLPA) and team owners. This happened during the summer of 2011. He also helped the league grow, change team divisions, and build new stadiums. He was involved in starting the NFL Network and making new TV deals.

Early Life and Education

Roger Goodell was born in Jamestown, New York, on February 19, 1959. His father was Charles Goodell, a Senator from New York. Roger Goodell went to Bronxville High School. There, he was a star athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was the captain of all three teams in his senior year. He was also named the school's athlete of the year. Injuries kept him from playing college football. In 1981, Goodell graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in Economics.

Becoming NFL Commissioner

How Goodell Was Chosen

When Commissioner Tagliabue decided to retire, Roger Goodell was one of the people considered for the job. During the voting process, Goodell and another candidate, Gregg Levy, were the main choices. Goodell slowly gained more votes.

On August 8, 2006, Roger Goodell was selected to be the next NFL Commissioner. He officially started his new role on September 1, 2006.

Goodell's Role and Actions

Goodell believes his main job as commissioner is to protect the game's fairness and make it safer. He calls this "protecting the shield," referring to the NFL's logo. Some of his decisions have received different opinions.

In 2014, Goodell received a high honor from the Department of the Army Civilian Awards. This was for his important help to the US Army community as the NFL commissioner.

NFL in Europe and International Games

The spring football league called NFL Europe was closed down by Goodell after the 2007 season. Most of its teams were based in Germany. After that, the NFL International Series began in October 2007. This series brought regular season NFL games to London.

Player Conduct Rules

In April 2007, Goodell announced new rules for how NFL players should behave off the field. This came after some players had issues. Players like Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry were among the first to be suspended under these new rules.

Goodell has also fined players for actions during games. For example, in October 2010, he fined players like Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison. This was for hits that were seen as controversial. Goodell sent a message to all teams. He said it was important to teach safe ways to play and follow the rules. Some players, like Troy Polamalu, felt Goodell had too much power in punishing players.

Handling of Spygate Incident

On September 13, 2007, Goodell took action against the New England Patriots and their head coach Bill Belichick. This was because the Patriots tried to secretly record the defensive signals of the New York Jets. Belichick was fined $500,000, which was the highest possible fine. The Patriots team was fined $250,000. They also lost a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. Goodell ordered the Patriots to hand over any related notes and tapes. The league then destroyed these tapes. Goodell took strong action because he felt Belichick's decisions were also the team's responsibility.

During the 2011 NFL Lockout

Goodell also played a key role during the 2011 NFL lockout. This was a time when NFL games were at risk because of disagreements between owners and players. The lockout lasted from March 11 to August 5, 2011. Goodell worked with NFL owners and the NFLPA to help resolve the dispute. He also spoke with season ticket holders to explain the situation.

Goodell in 2012

Handling of the Saints' Bounty Program

In March 2012, Goodell found evidence that players and coaches on the New Orleans Saints had a secret program. In this program, defensive players were paid extra money for purposely trying to injure opposing players. Goodell gave out some of the toughest penalties in NFL history. He suspended the defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, for a long time. He also suspended head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season. The Saints team was fined $500,000 and lost draft picks. Goodell was especially upset that those involved had lied about the program during investigations.

Replacement Referees in 2012

By June 2012, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association could not agree on a new contract. Because of this, the NFL used replacement referees for the start of the 2012 season. These officials were from lower-level college and high school games.

The replacement officials were not very experienced. This led to many mistakes and criticism from players and fans. A famous play called the Fail Mary happened because of a controversial call by replacement referees. This play involved the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. The NFL players' union wrote a letter to team owners. They said it was wrong to use less experienced officials when player safety was so important. The league and the regular referees eventually reached an agreement.

Player Brain Injury Lawsuits

Under Goodell's leadership, the NFL reached a settlement on August 30, 2013. This was with former NFL players who had suffered head injuries. The settlement created a fund to help these players. Players with serious conditions could receive money to help with their care. The agreement also set aside money for medical exams and research. The goal was to help players and learn more about head injuries.

Handling of Deflategate and Tom Brady

After the NFL suspended New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for four games, the players' union appealed. This was because of claims that Brady knew about footballs being deflated. Goodell decided to oversee Brady's appeal hearing himself.

On July 28, 2015, Goodell decided to keep the suspension. He said that Brady destroying his cell phone was important evidence. This suggested Brady knew about the footballs being tampered with. However, a U.S. District Judge later overturned Brady's suspension. The judge said Brady did not receive fair treatment. Many people criticized Goodell for how he handled the situation. The NFL then appealed this decision. On April 25, 2016, a higher court reinstated Brady's four-game suspension for the 2016 NFL season.

National Anthem Protests

On May 23, 2018, Commissioner Goodell and NFL owners approved a new policy. This policy required all players to stand during the national anthem. Players could also choose to stay in the locker room. Any player who protested on the field would face discipline. Teams could also be punished.

However, after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Goodell changed this position. He encouraged players to express their thoughts more freely.

Focus on Diversity and Inclusion

On February 3, 2025, Goodell spoke about the NFL's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. He said that these efforts have made the NFL better. He believes that having people from different backgrounds, including women and people of color, makes the league stronger. He stated that this will have a big impact on the league for many years.

Personal Life

In October 1997, Roger Goodell married Jane Skinner, who was a news anchor. They have twin daughters, who were born in 2001. Roger Goodell has four brothers. His cousin, Andy Goodell, is a member of the New York State Assembly.

Goodell appeared as himself in an NFL commercial before Super Bowl LIII.

See also

In Spanish: Roger Goodell para niños