Monday started as a day of excitement for the NFL as they geared up for the first football game of the season, the annual Hall of Fame Game, this year featuring the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions. A man with a documented history of mental illness entered NFL office buildings in New York and opened fire, devastatingly taking the lives of four people and injuring countless more. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell usually makes an appearance at the Hall of Fame game each year, but this year he decided to stay back in New York and attend the funeral of a fallen hero from the shooting.
NFL Commissioner Gives Emotional Interview on NYC Shooting Before Chargers-Lions Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Monday started as a day of excitement for the NFL as they geared up for the first football game of the season, the annual Hall of Fame Game, this year featuring the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions.
However, it quickly turned into a day of pain, panic, and terror that the league and New York will never forget.
A man with a documented history of mental illness entered NFL office buildings in New York and opened fire, devastatingly taking the lives of four people and injuring countless more.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell usually makes an appearance at the Hall of Fame game each year, but this year he decided to stay back in New York and attend the funeral of a fallen hero from the shooting.
Prior to the start of Thursday night’s game, Goodell was interviewed by NBC anchor Mike Tirico about the funeral and aftermath of the tragedy.
The commissioner was visibly emotional and affected by the shooting, sending his thoughts and prayers multiple times to the families of the victims.
Another layer to the incident is that the attacker was a high school football player and in a letter he wrote, implicated the NFL in his decision to hurt people, claiming that he developed CTE from playing the sport.
Goodell was asked about the claims and said that there is “no excuse” for the violence displayed Monday.
Mike Tirico speaks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the tragic events that occurred earlier this week at NFL headquarters in New York City. pic.twitter.com/0cRN0QABVT
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 1, 2025
No NFL employees lost their lives, but when so many of their fellow coworkers and neighbors were affected, it will take a long time to recover.
Related: Chargers Send Clear Message to Keenan Allen With Recent Free Agent Decision
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
