Commissioner Goodell on his NFL “holy s**t” moment, the Jets coaching job he almost took, and his rooting interests in a Super Bowl

The Process with Nate Burleson

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pays a visit to Peanut and Roman on the latest episode of the NFL Players: Second Acts podcast. Roman starts out sharing how he and other players reacted to the commissioner getting the top job. In a stunning revelation, the commissioner tells the guys how in 1984 he almost took a job with the New York Jets coaching staff after interning with the team. He also shares his welcome to the commissioner moment, and how it was a “holy s**t” experience. And Mr. Goodell takes us inside the “grueling” voting process that led to him becoming the league’s top leader. He shares his thoughts on the “Taylor Swift Effect” of NFL fandom this season and gives us insight to his Super Bowl watching habits (hint: he comes with a pen and paper). Hear what the commissioner says when Peanut and Roman ask him about the league’s efforts to support NFL legends. And the commissioner shares who is on his personal Mount Rushmore.

0:00 – start of episode

1:11 – Roger Goodell introduction
2:31– Roman says nobody knew who Goodell was when he became commissioner, commissioner talks about his start in the league, and his way to becoming commissioner
5:26 – Goodell talks about being offered a job by the Jets as a defensive asst.
7:32– Goodell on what his welcome to the NFL moment was as commissioner, and the first time it hit him he was in the job
9:12 – Goodell on the process to get the top job
11:08 – Roman asking him about the first time he met the commissioner in New Orleans after the Saints first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina
13:11 – Goodell talks about the NFL returning after the September 11th attacks
13:39– Roman asks Goodell about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
16:42– Goodell talks about getting booed, and leaning into it
17:52 – Goodell on who he’s picking for the Super Bowl, and what he roots for during the game
19:07 - Goodell talks about John Madden
21:51 – Peanut asks Goodell about his knee injury, and his transition to his second act
25:48 - break 2
27:04– Roman asks Goodell about how the league is supporting former players
33:21 – Goodell gives his personal Mount Rushmore
35:47 – Goodell is asked about his personal Mount Rushmore of NFL players

*NOTE: Time codes are approximate

The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio.

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