Sports
Roger Goodell talks controversies surrounding NFL in state of the league address
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pose for a photograph at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tackled a multitude of controversies surrounding the league Monday including New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch’s appearance in the Epstein Files, the league’s ongoing diversity problems in the coaching system and Bill Belichick’s recent Hall of Fame snub during his state of the league address Monday in San Jose, Calif.
Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks is Sunday in nearby Santa Clara.
Goodell was asked multiple times about Tisch reportedly being mentioned more than 400 times in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Tisch often had interactions with Epstein about various women in files released publicly.
He was very brief with the comments each time, but Goodell indicated the league would investigate if needed.
“Absolutely we are going to look at all the facts,” Goodell said. “We’re going to look at the context and try to understand that. We’ll look at how that falls under the policy. I think we take one step at a time. Let’s get the facts first.”
The emails, which were sent in 2013, were released Friday by the Department of Justice among 3.5 million documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking case and were first reported on by The Athletic.
The NFL had 10 head-coaching vacancies this season and nine of them went to white men. The one minority hire was Robert Saleh by the Tennessee Titans. He’s Lebanese and also has previously been a head coach with the New York Jets
“Teams are trying to get the coach they think will help them win,” Goodell.
The Rooney Rule has been in place since 2003 and it requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching positions and for some executive roles.
Goodell was asked about the possibility that some NFL teams might satisfy the Rooney Rule when they have no intention of hiring a minority candidate.
“I would dispute the context of the question,” Goodell said. “I think the Rooney Rule has been seen as a positive by our clubs by giving them an opportunity to look at a diverse set of candidates.
“They make the choice, ultimately, but I think it has shown them the value of looking at talent where you might not know it or might not see it.”
As for recent reports that Belichick won’t be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, Goodell said the former Patriots head coach should be a clear entrant.
“He’s the second winningest coach in NFL football and six Super Bowls as a head coach and two as a defensive coordinator, that’s a Hall of Fame career,” Goodell said. “Bill Belichick deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”
Goodell emphasized that the NFL has nothing to do with the voting process.
Goodell was asked about the reported sale of the Seahawks and he said the trust of the late Paul Allen requires the team to be sold. Owner Jody Allen is handling that.
“Eventually the team will need to be solid in accordance of that (trust). It will be Jody’s decision on when she does that and we will be supportive of that.”
Goodell said reports that the Seahawks were fined $5 million for failing to be in compliance with league ownership requirements were “not true.”
–Goodell praised the level of officiating and said he’s not sure the league has ever seen higher quality.
“I’m so amazed at how good our officials are,” Goodell said. “These guys have to make a split-second decision. They have proven over and over they are very wonderful at what they do … it’s a difficult sport to officiate. It’s fast, it’s quick and we have to use technology to prevent the obvious errors.
“I think replay assist has been a terrific advance and we need to expand on it.
–The NFL will host nine international games in 2026 across four continents. London will host three games. Landing one game each will be Paris, Madrid, Munich, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne. The New Orleans Saints will play in Paris and the Los Angeles Rams will play in Australia.
“We’re hearing from cities all over the world who want to host these games,” Goodell said. “They want to get more American football.”
Goodell said his goal is to annually have 16 international games so every NFL team is playing in one.
–Goodell said there hasn’t been much dialogue with the NFL Players Association about expanding the season by one game to 18.
“We have not had any formal discussion and, frankly, very little informal discussion,” Goodell said. “It’s not a given that we’ll do that. It’s not something we assume will happen.”
–Goodell said security for the game is tight but normal for Super Bowls. He also thinks halftime performer Bad Bunny will put on a good show.
“This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity and their talents and to be able to use this moment to do that,” Goodell said. “I think artists in the past have done that and I think he will have a great performance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
DC United, Atlanta United struggle to find chances, play to 0-0 draw
Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón (10) steals the ball against D.C. United defender Silvan Hefti (5) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Host Atlanta United and D.C. United ended their meeting on Saturday night the same way it started as the Eastern Conference foes played to a 0-0 draw.
Atlanta (1-3-1, 4 points) came into the night having picked up its first win of the season a week ago, a 3-1 victory against the Philadelphia Union to give Atlanta five goals over its previous two matches.
D.C. (2-2-1, 7 points), which snapped a two-match losing streak in its last outing, kept a clean sheet for the second time this season and for the first time since its season opener, a 1-0 win over the Union on Feb. 21.
Chances were at a premium for both sides as neither Atlanta’s Lucas Hoyos nor D.C.’s Sean Johnson had much to do in their respective goals. In fact, the best chance of the first half for either side was a Cooper Sanchez’s attempt just outside the box in the 13th minute that Johnson was able to deal with.
D.C., on its end, came close to the opening goal in the 61st minute after poor defending for Atlanta led to a flurry of activity in front of its own net. Hoyos, though, made a save on Jackson Hopkins’ attempt.
In the 83rd minute, Caden Clark had a chance to put D.C. in front, but his attempt struck the right post. Then, in the 87th minute, Brandon Servania’s long-range effort rang off the crossbar.
That was the final meaningful opportunity of the evening for both teams as they each walked off the pitch with a point apiece.
Atlanta held a 64.8% to 35.1% advantage in possession for the match and outshot D.C. 9-4. But it was held scoreless for the third time this season.
Hoyos ended the night with a single save en route to the first clean sheet of his MLS career. Johnson stopped both Atlanta shots he faced.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Charlotte FC set team record for goals, blow out Red Bulls
Mar 21, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Red Bulls New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath (34) reacts after being scored on by Charlotte FC during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images Kerwin Vargas and Pep Biel scored in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Charlotte FC set a team record for goals and pulled away for a 6-1 rout of the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Biel made the pass that led to Idan Toklomati finishing off a header in the 14th minute and Charlotte (2-1-2, 8 points) survived New York attempting 10 shots and holding possession for a little over 60% for the first half.
After scoring four goals in its first four matches, Charlotte finished it off early in the second half by capitalizing on miscues by the Red Bulls.
Vargas scored from the center of the box after New York’s Omar Valencia overran the ball trying to intercept a pass from Djibril Diani. After securing possession, Vargas put a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner of the net.
In the 52nd, New York’s Gustav Berggren was shown the red card and kicked out for a foul on Toklomati, resulting in a free kick.
Biel took the kick and his left-footed shot from outside the box found a gap in New York’s eight-man wall and cruised into the bottom left corner.
Wilfried Zaha also scored in the 68th as Charlotte matched the team record of four goals they set five previous times. Archie Goodwin finished off the rout with a goal in the 77th and another in the third minute of stoppage time.
Julian Hall scored late for New York, which attempted 23 shots.
Goalie Kristijan Kahlina made seven saves. He solidified the blowout with consecutive saves on Mohammed Sofo and Valencia in a span of two minutes shortly after Charlotte took a three-goal lead.
New York (2-2-1, 7 points) tied a team record by allowing six goals for the fourth time and first instance since a 6-2 loss at Inter Miami on May 4, 2024. The Red Bulls have been outscored 9-1 in their two losses under first-year coach Michael Bradley.
New York goalie Ethan Horvath allowed six goals on 10 shots.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luke Kennard's last-second shot beats Magic; Lakers' win streak at 9
Mar 21, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) reacts after hitting a game winning basket at the buzzer against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Luke Kennard drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining on Saturday to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 105-104 victory over the host Orlando Magic.
Trailing by two with 2.6 seconds left, Marcus Smart inbounded a pass to a wide-open Kennard, with the Lakers’ sharpshooter hitting his third 3-pointer of the game and clinching the team’s ninth straight win.
Los Angeles (46-25) was led by Luka Doncic’s 33 points and eight assists, while Austin Reaves had 26 points and Kennard had 13. LeBron James scored 12 points and passed Robert Parish for most games played in NBA history with 1,612.
Orlando (38-32) was paced by Paolo Banchero’s 16 points and Jalen Suggs’ 14. Wendell Carter Jr. and Jevon Carter added 13 apiece for the Magic, who lost their fourth straight.
Trailing by four in the third quarter, Los Angeles’ 12-0 run was capped with James’ layup to give the visitors a 78-70 edge.
From there, Orlando finished the third on a 17-4 run, holding the Lakers to just one made field goal across the final six minutes of the quarter.
After falling behind by seven to start the fourth, Los Angeles went on a 10-2 run — which included Reaves’ six points — to take a 92-91 advantage with 6:31 left.
James’ layup cut the Lakers’ deficit to a point at the 2:02 mark, before Banchero’s basket gave Orlando a 100-97 lead. Doncic and Carter then traded jumpers on the team’s subsequent possessions.
Banchero then hit two free throws to push the Magic’s lead to five with 50 seconds remaining.
After Reaves’ layup, the Lakers forced an Orlando miss on the other end. Reaves then missed a game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left. Deandre Ayton got the offensive rebound and was fouled, splitting the free throws to leave the Lakers’ deficit at two.
Suggs then threw the ball away for an Orlando turnover with 4.1 seconds left, leading to Kennard’s game-winner.
After setting the new record, James’ fast-break dunk helped Los Angeles grab an early 6-0 lead.
Doncic’s fadeaway jumper gave the Lakers their first double-digit lead at 30-20. The margin grew to 14 on Reaves’ dunk, before Orlando finished the opening quarter on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit in half.
The run continued into the second quarter as the Magic answered Reaves’ floater with a 13-0 run, stamped with Tristan da Silva’s floater to put Orlando ahead by six.
After Suggs’ stepback trey, Reaves beat the first-half buzzer with a mid-range jumper, trimming the Lakers’ halftime deficit to 65-62.
–Field Level Media
DC United, Atlanta United struggle to find chances, play to 0-0 draw
Charlotte FC set team record for goals, blow out Red Bulls
