NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell held his annual state of the NFL press conference Monday from the Bay Area, the site of Super Bowl LX.
Goodell, who is nearing the end of his 20th season as commissioner, discussed several topics: the league’s international schedule, the exclusion of Bill Belichick from this year’s Hall of Fame class, and Steve Tisch’s ties to the recently released Epstein Files.
International Schedule
Goodell announced that the NFL will host nine international games in 2026, including a return to Mexico City. The New Orleans Saints are set to play in the first-ever regular-season game in Paris.
“We’re getting great reactions from our teams… our players loved it… They felt like ambassadors.” - Roger Goodell
Steve Tisch and the Epstein Files
Goodell stated that the league will investigate Tisch’s connections to the Epstein Files, emphasizing the importance of gathering all relevant facts before determining the next steps.
“We’re going to look at the context… and see how that falls under policy.” - Roger Goodell
Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame Snub
While he acknowledged Belichick’s achievements, Goodell mentioned that the decision-making process for Hall of Fame selections is complex and involves timing.
“Bill Belichick deserves to be in that Hall of Fame too.” - Roger Goodell
Diversity in Hiring
Goodell also recognized the need for improved diversity hiring practices in coaching positions, highlighting that only one of the ten recent head coach hires was a minority candidate.
“The league continues to face challenges in diversity… but we’re committed to finding solutions.” - Roger Goodell
Regular-Season Expansion
Goodell indicated that the possibility of expanding the regular season by adding another game is still under discussion and not guaranteed.
“We have not had any formal discussions… it’s something that we want to talk about with the union leadership.” - Roger Goodell
Honoring Paul Tagliabue
Finally, he announced the creation of the “Paul Tagliabue Academic Achievement Award” to celebrate players who pursue education alongside their careers in the NFL.
