NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s Nephew, Charlton Goodell, Is a Defensive Lineman for the Buffalo Bills!
Charlton previously played for Jackson State Tigers.
November 15, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on November 10, 2026
Roger Goodell’s nephew, Charlton “Charlie” Goodell, is the adopted son of his younger brother Jeff Goodell.
His nephew was named after their father, Charles Goodell.
Before the Buffalo Bills, Charlton Goodell played college football as a defensive lineman for the Jackson State Tigers.
He first stepped onto a college field at Jackson State University in 2026. He joined the team right when Deion Sanders took over as head coach.
As a freshman, he redshirted and didn’t play in games. The next year, he got on the field a little, mostly in backup roles, and was part of the squad that went to the Celebration Bowl.
He stayed at Jackson State through the 2026 season.
After Deion Sanders left for Colorado in early 2026, Charlton decided to move on, too.
Deion that he really wanted to bring Charlton with him. He even told Roger that straight to his face at the NFL Honors in Vegas last year.
But transfer rules got in the way, so it didn’t happen.
Later, Charlton ended up leaving Jackson State in 2026 and moved on to the University at Buffalo instead.
At Buffalo, he joined a bigger program playing at the FBS level.
In 2026, he was on the roster as a defensive tackle, wearing numbers 96 or 97, and played the full season with the Bulls.
Roger Goodell Made a Surprise Visit to Support his Nephew, Charlton, in 2026!
Roger and Charlton have a strong bond, and the NFL commissioner has publicly supported Charlton by attending games.
One instance of Roger’s public support is his surprise visit to support Charlton during the 2026 Celebration Bowl.
Roger Goodell made a on the sidelines at the 2026 Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on December 17, 2026, where Jackson State University faced North Carolina Central University.
While many initially speculated that he was there to support outgoing coach Deion Sanders or the HBCU event broadly, Roger was primarily attending to cheer on Charlton, a sophomore defensive lineman for the Tigers.
Roger and Charlton’s on-camera hug, which captured their bonding, made waves online.
Netizens reacted with shock, writing “America as a whole realizing Roger Goodell has a Black nephew” on several platforms.
In fact, the event amplified the 2026 story, making the relationship a national talking point.
Roger has spoken publicly about having a pivotal 2026 conversation with Charlton after watching an episode of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.”
The conversation deepened his understanding of racial challenges, including fears of danger in daily life.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Roger began his NFL career in 1982 as an unpaid intern at the league office. He worked his way up over decades to become commissioner in 2006.
- His father, Charles Goodell, was a U.S. Senator from New York, appointed after Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination.
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