NFL fans have unleashed a torrent of criticism aimed at Commissioner Roger Goodell following a peculiar and widely mocked skit during the league's prestigious NFL Honors award ceremony. The incident occurred on Thursday night in San Francisco, where the football elite, including coaches, players, former stars, and team executives, gathered for the glitzy event.
Goodell's Unexpected DJ Cameo Draws Ire
Amid the presentation of the season's top awards, attention shifted dramatically to Goodell's unexpected appearance. In a segment that left many viewers bewildered, the 66-year-old commissioner took over as the evening's DJ, donning a black hat, sunglasses, and a large gold chain necklace. The bizarre moment unfolded when host and actor John Hamm attempted to introduce DJ Bijan Robinson, only for cameras to reveal Goodell standing in his place.
Hamm exclaimed, 'What are you doing?!' to which Goodell replied, 'Bijan is on the can and I told him I'd take over.' When questioned about his DJ skills, Goodell asserted, 'It's my passion, John. And when I'm behind here, please, I like to go by 'Rog DMC'.' He then announced he would only play his 'favorite songs,' leading into an NFL intro song that echoed through the auditorium.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
While Goodell likely intended the skit as a humorous interlude, it backfired spectacularly, igniting a firestorm of negative reactions on social media platforms. Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their dismay and frustration.
- One disgruntled viewer wrote, 'Roger goodell you are not funny please don't attempt to rehab your image just let us enjoy clowning you.'
- Another commented, 'There’s literally no way Roger Goodell thought this would be a funny bit,' accompanying the post with a screenshot of the commissioner in his DJ attire.
- A fan succinctly stated, 'Get Roger Goodell off my screen,' while another simply labeled it 'Roger Goodell cringe.'
The backlash was so pronounced that it trended online, with many users sharing the clip and mocking Goodell's attempt at levity, dubbing him 'Rog DMC' in a nod to the iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC.
Context of Recent Controversies
This outburst against Goodell comes on the heels of another contentious issue involving the NFL. Recently, the commissioner attempted to downplay the furor surrounding Bad Bunny and ICE at this year's Super Bowl. The decision to feature the Puerto Rican artist sparked outrage from former President Donald Trump and his allies, with Trump branding it 'crazy' and 'absolutely ridiculous.'
Bad Bunny had previously cited ICE as a reason for excluding mainland US dates from his tour and criticized federal agents during a speech at the Grammys. However, with the Super Bowl LX matchup between the Seahawks and Patriots imminent, Goodell suggested that the controversy was not overshadowing the event. When asked by the Daily Mail if he was frustrated that ICE and Bad Bunny were dominating the pre-game buildup, he responded, 'I don't think that's true... I think the media is [talking about it]. I don't think anyone else is.'
Despite Goodell's attempts to deflect, the DJ skit has now added fuel to the fire, highlighting a growing disconnect between the commissioner and the fanbase. As the NFL continues to navigate these public relations challenges, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between entertainment and executive image in professional sports.
