Who is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's nephew, Charlton Goodell? All you need to know about Jackson State sophomore 

Roger Goodell might not be an NFL player, but he is certainly the biggest domino in the entire National Football League.

Goodell has been the NFL commissioner since August 8, 2006, when he was chosen to succeed retiring commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Commissioner Goodell has overseen numerous changes on and off the gridiron. He has improved safety protocols, increased the number of regular season games, and overseen numerous player and staff salary increments.

That isn't to say that Goodell hasn't made some unpopular decisions as the NFL commissioner, but who wouldn't in that position? Over the weekend, Gridiron's numero uno broke the internet, but not for an NFL-related reason. No, it was a surprise to many people, including us, that Roger Goodell has a nephew who is greatly involved in HBCU football.

Roger's nephew is Charlton Goodell, a sophomore defensive lineman for the Jackson State Tigers. Roger was in attendance as Charlton's Jackson State University team played in the Celebration Bowl against North Carolina Central. The Celebration Bowl game drew significant attention as it was JSU head coach Deion Sanders' last game with the side before his move to Colorado University.

Charlton Goodell is one of Commissioner Goodell’s younger brother’s adopted kids. Charlton Goodell is a sophomore at Jackson State University and a squad player for the HBCU Giants. Charlton will be hoping to join his uncle in the NFL in a few years, and we are pretty sure that the Florida native will be a unique draw to NFL stadiums if that is the case.

Roger Goodell's rise up the NFL ranks

Roger Goodell is the current commissioner of the most popular league in the United States of America. Goodell did not just come out of the blue to assume the role; rather, he occupied some other positions and rose up the ranks.

He got his start in the NFL in 1982 as an administrative intern in the NFL head office in New York under former league commissioner Pete Rozelle. Goodell was armored by the complex yet unique structure of the league, so he decided to stick around after his internship. He stayed until 1983 before completing another New York Jets franchise internship. After his experience with the Jets, Goodell resumed working at the NFL head office as an assistant in the public relations department.

His steady rise up the ranks continued as the young Goodell was appointed as an assistant to the president of the American Football Conference, Lamar Hunt. It was the beginning of a string of roles in numerous departments in the NFL, as Goodell stacked up his CV until he eventually sealed an appointment as the NFL's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2001.

On August 8, 2006, Roger Goodell was appointed to replace retiring NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Goodell was elected commissioner of the NFL, defeating Gregg Levy in a vote. He has served in the position ever since without a break in tenure.