NFL commissioner Roger Goodell provides critical update on staffer who was shot in deadly New York attack

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Commissioner Roger Goodell has revealed that the NFL staffer shot in the deadly attack at the league's New York HQ is 'stable' and his condition is 'improving'.
Craig Clementi, who works in the NFL's finance department, reportedly took a bullet in the back during the tragic mass shooting on Monday night, when Shane Tamura killed four people in Manhattan.
Clementi has been recovering in a nearby hospital and on Wednesday he was paid a visit by Goodell.
'He's stable and improving. I got to spend about an hour with him. (He is an) amazing young man,' Goodell told NBC.
'We're optimistic about his recovery, and I think that's good news for all of us in the NFL, and obviously our hearts continue to be in support with their family.
'He has a young family. I had a chance to meet his brother and his parents and I think it's something that is really hard for all of us to understand and deal with.'
Mike Tirico speaks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the tragic events that occurred earlier this week at NFL headquarters in New York City. pic.twitter.com/0cRN0QABVT
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 1, 2025
New York mayor Eric Adams said Tamura was targeting the NFL offices on another floor but entered the wrong elevator and instead ended up on a different floor.
Tamura, 27, allegedly believed he had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and accused the league of hiding the dangers of brain injuries linked to contact sports.
NYPD officer Didarul Islam, who was 36 and had a child on the way, was gunned down. Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, security guard Aland Etienne and real estate professional Julia Hyman were also killed.
Goodell described their 'terrible loss' as 'devastating' and 'heartbreaking for all of us'.
When asked about the NFL being targeted, an emotional Goodell said: 'It's a difficult thing, particularly when you're dealing with a senseless act like this.
'There are no excuses for those senseless acts - they are hard for all of us to understand when it inflicts pain on people you know and care about and people we deal with on a daily basis.
'That's particularly hard but - as you know - these acts of senseless violence and hatred are happening around our country and our world far too often... we all have to continue to be vigilant and do what we can to protect ourselves and the NFL is going to do that with our employees and our people.'
During his interview, Goodell insisted that 'there are no excuses for the senseless acts'
He added: 'All of us have to do more and make sure we're doing everything to get help to people who need it and also to take the necessary precautions.
'I assure you our employees are going to work hard, we're going to carry on - maybe with broken hearts - but we will carry on.'
CTE is a brain condition thought to be linked to repeated blows to the head. It has affected many former NFL players.
Following the attack, Goodell released a solemn letter and asked colleagues to stay away from the league's Manhattan's offices.
On Thursday, the commissioner attended the funeral of NYPD officer Islam and became emotional about his 'tremendous loss.'
'You see the officer's family, his young children... it's something that happens in the line of work for police officers but that never makes it easy,' he said.
'(He's) somebody that we see outside the building most every day when we come in. And it hits home, the unnecessary and unexplainable loss.
'It's something that all of us as New Yorkers feel a great pride in the NYPD and the first responders. It was a difficult, emotional afternoon.'
The tragedy unfolded Monday night when Tamura, 27 and of Las Vegas, exited a BMW armed with a rifle before entering the midtown-Manhattan skyscraper.
New York Police Department officials say Tamura then fired on one officer and sprayed the lobby with bullets before taking an elevator to the 33rd floor, where he fatally shot another person and killed himself.
A note found in his wallet implied he was upset with the NFL over his belief he was suffering from CTE, which can only be diagnosed posthumously.
Tamura, who was reportedly a former high school football player, asked to have his brain studied after his death. Police say he had a history of mental illness.