Roger Goodell Says NFL Will Continue To Push LGBTQ Outreach Because 'Diversity Makes Us Better'

In recent years, the NFL has made a concerted effort to show its unwavering support of the LGBTQ community. And don't expect that to stop anytime soon.

It started in April 2017 when the NFL hosted an LGBTQ Pride discussion panel at its New York City headquarters. That event marked the official launch of the league's LGBTQ employee affinity group, NFL Pride. About 150 people — including commissioner Roger Goodell — sat and listened as openly gay former professional athletes discussed steps the league could take to be more inclusive for the gay community.

In an exclusive interview with Outsports in honor of this year's Pride Month, Goodell explained why the cause is so special to him.

"One of the most important jobs I have as commissioner is to listen," Goodell said. "That day, we were forming our Pride employee resource group, so I wanted to show my support for our staff and engage with panelists like NFL Legend Ryan O’Callaghan."

Since that panel discussion, the NFL has boosted its outreach efforts every year. In addition to encouraging its teams to participate in Pride Month initiatives each June, the league partnered with GLAAD to host a "Night of Pride" at this year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Goodell & Co. also hold an annual Pride Flag Football Clinic at the Super Bowl Experience, and multiple teams have announced partnerships with the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL).

"Our Super Bowl Night of Pride events with GLAAD have been powerful," Goodell said. "Creating a space for the LGBTQ community and allies during our biggest week sends a message that we value inclusion and opportunity for all."

Roger Goodell speaks onstage at "Super Bowl LVII: A Night of Pride."

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)

In 2021, defensive end/linebacker Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to publicly come out as gay and to play in a game. Since that announcement, the NFL has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to The Trevor Project — which focuses on suicide prevention efforts among the LGBTQ community.

"After Carl Nassib came out, we partnered with Carl and The Trevor Project on a marketing campaign called ‘Football is for everyone,'" Goodell said, "boosting awareness of this life-saving organization."

For Roger Goodell, It's Personal

Goodell's brother Michael is gay.

"I love Michael, and I’m proud of him," Roger told Outsports.

And, over the years, Michael has praised the commish for defending him against bullies when they were younger. If Roger hadn't intervened, Michael says, he was "the type who would have been beat up a lot."

"It would have been humiliating. What would that have meant if I did survive it? Would I have done drugs?" Michael said, according to Advocate. "There are all sorts of things you can turn to because of self-hatred and loathing. But none of that was even a possibility, because I had this support around me. So, yeah, Roger is very much a hero figure for me."

GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

(Michael Chow / The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports)

And now, apparently, he's trying to be a hero for others, too. Currently, there are no publicly out gay athletes in the NFL. But Goodell says when those guys do come forward, they'll have the support of the league.

"Both publicly and privately, I’ve made clear that if any member of the NFL family comes out, we will have their back," he said. "Each coming out has confirmed what I’ve always known to be true: Diversity makes us better, and LGBTQ people continue to contribute to the success of the NFL."

Critics (or "homophobes," if you ask Outsports) would argue there are plenty of ways people can be diverse — none of which get the same fanfare as a person's decision on with whom to have sex. 

But like it or not, NFL Pride is here to stay. At least as long as Roger Goodell is in charge.