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As one can understand, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was emotional to discuss the tragic mass shooting at the league’s headquarters in New York City, leaving four dead Monday night.
Goodell appeared at NBC ahead of the NFL Hall of Fame game, which starts the 2025 season in Canton, Ohio. In a speech with Mike Tirico, Goodell condemned the “meaningless” act of violence that also left an NFL employee “seriously injured.”
“There are no excuses for these meaningless actions,” Goodell said. “They are tough to us all to understand. It inflicts pain you know and people you are interested in and people you are dealing with on a daily basis. It’s especially difficult.
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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looks at a press conference of Caesar’s Superdome on February 3, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana ahead of the NFL Super Bowl Lix football match between Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“But as you know, these actions with meaningless violence and hatred happen around our country and the world too often – in schools, in churches, in synagogues, in places that this just should not happen. We all need to continue to be vigilant and continue to protect ourselves and the NFL will continue to do so with our employees and our people.”
Goodell began specifically to be strangled when talking about “outflow of support” all from government officials, to teams and coaches, have given the league in this difficult time.
But Goodell made sure to point out that this didn’t just affect the league – it’s much more than that.
NFL releases statement after mass shooting in the league headquarters in NYC: ‘Resilient and United’
“Remember that this attack is far more than on several individuals. This is an attack on our humanity, this is an attack on our society, this is an attack on New York, this is an attack on our lifestyle,” he said. “All of us have to do more and make sure we do everything to get help with people who need help. And also to take the necessary precautions. I can assure you that our employees will work hard.”
Goodell was among those who attended the funeral of the fallen NYPD officer Didarul Islam, who died after 27-year-old Shane Tamura released a barrier of bullets in the lobby at 345 Park Avenue. Tamura ultimately took her own life on the building’s 33rd floor.
“A person we see outside the building almost every day,” Goodell said as he held back his feelings. “It strikes the loss home, the unnecessary and inexplicable loss. It is something that we all like New Yorkers feel a great pride in NYPD and everything they do, and all the first respondents. It was a difficult, emotional afternoon. But also a huge heartwarming service for him.”
As for the NFL employee who was wounded in the shooting, Goodell said he visited him for about an hour on Thursday. He improves in the hospital and is surrounded by those he loves.
Paramedics in New York Fire Department (FDNY) respond to stage with a shooting of 345 Park Ave. In New York, USA, Monday, July 28, 2025. An active shooting game attacked 345 Park Ave. In Manhattan, the tower, which houses Blackstone Inc.’s global headquarters and the National Football League, among others, and killed a police officer and harms several other people according to a city. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“An amazing young man, so we are optimistic for his improvement, and I think it’s good news for all of us in the NFL, and of course our hearts continue to support his family,” Goodell said. “He has a young family and [I] Had a chance to meet his brother, parents, and I think it’s something that is really hard for all of us to understand and deal with. “
New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed on Fox 5 new “Good Day New York” that Tamura was targeting the NFL when he showed up to Midtown Manhattan Office Building, which also served as a workplace for other companies, including investment company Blackstone and Rudin Management.
Tamura allegedly had a complaint with the NFL referring to the football sport, giving him chronically traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a side effect of repeated hits upside down. Adams said Tamura took the wrong elevator bank inside the building after attacking them in the lobby.
Goodell was in contact with all league employees from Monday night, revealing that an employee was injured in the shooting. He sent another memo that said all New York City-based workers should be distant at least through next week.
It is a trying time for many, including all those at the NFL, but Goodell knows that sports can sometimes serve as healing.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looks at before an NFL football match between Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts at Empower Field at Mile High on December 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“We think the NFL brings people together and we will continue it,” he said. “We will be lifted by our own efforts to bring the National Football League to our fans. This is something that I think our employees are very proud of, which is why these people are there tonight that begins this process of ensuring that people can enjoy the National Football League. We will put our employees as our primary focus, but we think we also bring our country together.
“We will continue. Maybe with broken hearts, but we will continue.”
