Roger Goodell confused the entire internet when he showed up at Jackson State’s Celebration Bowl appearance Saturday. There were only a few reasons that immediately came to mind for this.
The first was maybe he was there to support Deion Sanders in his last game at the prestigious historically Black university. They’re buds, right? That’s totally plausible considering Sanders is making a b-line for Colorado right after this game.
Or maybe this could’ve been a scouting trip for Goodell? Nah. That can’t be right. He’s a commissioner, not a scout. Come on, Sykes.
To be fair to me here, though, there wasn’t a person in the world who could’ve guessed what the correct answer actually was.
As it turns out, Roger Goodell actually has a nephew who goes to Jackson State.
No, no — seriously. This is not a bit. He really has a nephew who goes to Jackson State. And, yes. his nephew is Black. His name is Charlton Goodell, and he’s a Sophomore at Jackson State.
Roger gave him a big hug on the sideline. You should recognize that hug, too. It’s the same hug he gives to the No. 1 draft pick every year. Clearly, Charlton is No. 1 in his heart.
Roger Goodell showed up to support his nephew Charlton Goodell at the Cricket Celebration Bowl 🙌 @GoJSUTigersFB pic.twitter.com/N87Aj4lRAa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 17, 2022
Nobody can blame you for missing this back in 2020 with, well, you know *waves hands wildly in the air*. But Goodell did an interview where he talked about Charlton — or Charlie, as he calls him — with Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho. He’s one of his younger brother’s adopted kids.
That’s a pretty neat thing. You absolutely love to see family thriving. But, still, everyone was just a tad bit confused by what they just learned. It felt like the simulation simulated a little too hard.