CANTON, Ohio – The start of the NFL season was marked by an emotional moment of silence at the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night, in memory of the four people who lost their lives earlier in the week in a shooting targeting the league’s headquarters in New York. The attacker also injured a league employee during the incident on Monday night. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed NBC that he visited the employee on Wednesday, who was showing a favorable evolution.
Goodell remained in New York to attend the funeral of police officer Didarul Islam, who was also a victim of the shooting.It’s heartbreaking for all of us. It’s devastating. An incredible young man, and we are optimistic about his recovery, and I think that’s good news for all of us in the NFL and, obviously, our hearts continue to support the family. I think it’s something that is really difficult for all of us to understand and deal with.
Roger Goodell
Increased security was implemented at Tom Benson Stadium, where Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe will be honored at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. That’s real life, and it’s unfortunate that we live in a space where this is a possibility and is becoming a situation where, if you’re a parent, the first thing you think about is workplace safety for your child or your loved ones. And that it be specifically the National Football League, opening week is tonight, the Hall of Fame is Saturday, and the game has made great strides, but it’s just an example that there’s still work to be done. The league held a virtual meeting on Wednesday, providing employees the opportunity to connect and share resources. Goodell informed employees on Tuesday that they could work remotely at least until the end of next week due to the closure of the league’s offices. Investigators believe that Shane Tamura, 27, a Las Vegas resident, was trying to reach the NFL offices after shooting several people in the building lobby and then another in an office on the 33rd floor on Monday, before taking his own life, according to authorities. Police reported that Tamura had a history of mental illness, and a note found on his body suggested he had a complaint against the NFL for a claim related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed by examining the brain after death. Tamura played American football in high school in California a decade ago, but never in the NFL.It hits home, the loss, the unnecessary and inexplicable loss, and it’s something that all of us, as New Yorkers, feel a great sense of pride for the NYPD and what they do, and all the first responders. It was a difficult and emotional afternoon, but also a tremendous and moving service.
Roger Goodell
These senseless acts of violence and hatred are happening in our country and around the world, far too often in schools, churches, synagogues, and other places, this simply should not be happening. But we must all remain vigilant and do what we can to protect ourselves, and the NFL will do so with our employees and our people.It’s somewhat difficult, particularly when it comes to senseless acts like this. They are difficult for all of us to understand, when they inflict pain on people you know and people you care about and with whom we deal on a daily basis, that’s particularly hard.
Roger Goodell
