An Open Letter to Roger Goodell
By Brett Wengert and Kaitlin Riffe-Uding
Honestly, I didn't know your name or even that you're the head honcho of the NFL. The stand-in title for this blog post was "An open letter to the NFL boss" before I figured out who you are.
I'm writing on behalf of moms, wives, and partners everywhere. We've tried to reason with and argue our husbands and loved ones into positive change, but that hasn't been working. Now we have the stereotype that we're "nAgGiNg ThEm" constantly. Whatever, I'll take my message straight to the source of regular weekend conflict in homes across America.
You're in our homes constantly because our husbands are your target audience, and they typically like testosterone-driven competition as long as their attention spans allow them to sit on the couch and watch it.
This letter is not to you, specifically, but rather, what you represent. You're just the head honcho; I want to be as direct as possible with my message. I hope you can appreciate my attempt at direct marketing since so much of your business model involves it.
I'm writing in a (probably mediocre) attempt to argue on behalf of millions of wives and partners across our country.
You aren't holding up your end of the deal, Sir.
You are allowed inside our homes. My home. It's what you want, after all. You need eyes on screens to pay the bills. Of course, there's the enjoyment of the game, or whatever, but it's business.
You occupy our husbands' attention. You could be doing so much more with that opportunity.
I'd like to propose some alternative sponsors for your league. Sponsors that could encourage positive change for our families since you're spending so much time in our homes. What if you took one or two commercials and boosted a more positive message instead? Think of it as a charitable donation of your time and responsible use of the platform you've built.
A few suggestions, right off the dome, for your consideration: Instead of Pepsi, why not give a few moments of your powerful platform to Help from the Hart, a non-profit established by Comedian Kevin Hart to raise money for scholarships awarded to kids in underserved communities?
Instead of Draft Kings, perhaps you could highlight more charity work of your players. Sir, are you aware how much sports gambling impacts the United States? Or how addicting sports gambling is? Worse question: Are you aware and don't care because Draft Kings and other betting companies paid 260 MILLION towards the bills in 2022? Sports betting is an incredibly powerful vice. Just ask all the individuals that park over state lines to place bets on the weekend in Illinois, as it’s currently illegal in my home state of Missouri.
Okay, I get it. The NFL is a business. Instead of pissing off your corporate giant business partners, why not take a re-approach to your marketing strategies for them? Technology sponsors paid your league an estimated 360 million buckaroos last year. Speaking from experience, my old Broncos fan supervisor could have used an ad educating him on how to fix his email signature. Could you help us out, Microsoft?
I've wrestled with this concept for a few weeks now. Here's what I've come up with. Worst case scenario, you encourage more positive change in today's culture. It's a positive change with intention, not just for PR or cheap political points. Best case scenario? You get ahead of the inevitable mass wife strike that lurks on the horizon. That threatens your bottom line.
This message is not intended to be hostile; I consider myself akin to Paul Revere running at you at a break-neck pace trying to warn that the British are coming.
While I have your attention, I have a nagging question I'd like an answer to. What's up with the Pepsi sponsorship and exclusive pouring rights at the draft? Do these young stallions of professional athletes actually partake in Pepsi after just landing a spot on a professional sports team for the first time in their life? "I just scored the opportunity of a lifetime through hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. Nothing like a PEPSI to celebrate."
I understand you have bills that need to be paid, but wouldn't the return on the initial investment be worth it? You may have entire halves of households you're already in that could be new fans. The sport could become a hobby we enjoy together in our homes instead of a hardship for some of us to endure.
In a survey of 2,202 people, 42% of female respondents stated they aren't even a fan of your league.
Y'all might be leaving money on the table; just saying.
It might seem like a radical concept, but I believe you are capable of it. Why do I think so? What I witnessed on January 2nd, 2023.
It was a typical Monday night in our home. My husband happened to have the football on because he enjoys watching the sport. Football was a huge part of his life growing up and remains as such in adulthood. I wasn't paying attention. Through the normalcy of playtime with our kids, my husband and I stilled and stared at the TV once we realized the entire Buffalo Bills team was on a knee and praying fiercely. Something significant had just happened.
Safety Damar Hamlin was hit and suffered cardiac arrest. Millions of people witnessed how traumatic the administration of CPR was for the first time. It was a lot.
Image Credit: The Boston Herald
It was unlike me, but I paid close attention for the next hour and a half. I wanted to know how the NFL, the leader in this unique and scary situation, would handle themselves.
You canceled the game. The Bills flew back to Buffalo. No one knew how the schedule of the season was going to proceed.
Whether intentional or not, you chose the humanity of that moment over profit.
My excitement about this concept only grew after my husband encouraged me to educate myself about the good you actually do. For example, I was completely uneducated about the NFL Foundation and the work you all do through it.
High five, Roger Goodell
I can recognize your good work and ask for more of it. You are capable of using your powers for good. It might be scary at first, but you have the potential to change our culture. You just have to continue to choose humanity over profit.
Just a thought.
Signed,
All frustrated wives and partners who want teammates on the weekends, not an extra kid to take care of.
