NFL’s Twitter Account Hacked, Erroneously Tweets That Commissioner Roger Goodell Died

By Andrew Simontacchi, Epoch Times
June 7, 2016 Last Updated: June 7, 2016
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been working to put a team in Los Angeles since the Raiders and Rams left 21 years ago. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The NFL’s official Twitter account was commandeered around noon on June 7—its hacker tweeting to say the club’s Commissioner Roger Goodell has passed away.

nfl twitter hack

The hacker followed up with a second tweet once the first one was removed. 

(NFL Twitter screenshots)

The hacker, who has yet to be identified, then playfully admitted he’d been found out.

NFL twitter hack

Of course, these tweets were instantly deleted, and even prior to their deletion, the NFL’s Press Relations’ Representative Brian McCarthy, as well as sports anchors and reporters alike, took to Twitter to confirm Goodell is in fine health.

Goodell has been the league’s commissioner since 2006—and recently topped headlines for his handling of several domestic violence cases and for his suspension of the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

More than 100 more tweets were sent to the @NFL handle’s server at the time, but only those three managed to actually post.

The NFL said in a written statement that they “have engaged law enforcement to look into the matter,” and were taking strides toward “reviewing and strengthening” their cyber-security measures.

And of course, with the hacking, came the internet jokes (and trolls).