Former FBI director Robert Mueller III released the result of the independent investigation about the elevator video showing Ray Rice hitting his then-fiancée in the elevator, concluding the league did not see the controversial footage before it went public.

Mueller, who led the in-depth investigation that aimed to determine whether league officials obtained the video before it went viral online, reportedly ordered around 500 NFL employees to give them their phone and email records.

Based on the investigation and records they have gathered, Mueller said they found no evidence anyone at the league office is aware of the in-elevator video. He also revealed they failed to prove a woman confirmed receipt of the video in April last year.

"We found no evidence that anyone at the NFL had or saw the in-elevator video before it was publicly shown. We also found no evidence that a woman at the NFL acknowledged receipt of that video in a voicemail message on April 9, 2014," the report said.

The result of the investigation supported NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's claim they did not see the video before he handed a two-game suspension to Rice.

When Goodell saw the in-elevator video where Rice knocked Janay Palmer out cold with a punch, the NFL commissioner suspended the former Baltimore Ravens running back indefinitely.

But while the investigation supported Goodell's previous assertion, Mueller and his co-investigators pointed out the league should have conducted a deeper investigation because there was sufficient information about the incident, which could have helped them make a better decision on Rice's fate.

"We concluded there was substantial information about the incident -- even without the in-elevator video -- indicating the need for a more thorough investigation," the report added. "The NFL should have done more with the information it had, and should have taken additional steps to obtain all available information."

According to the report, the league should have also contacted police officers and the Atlantic City Prosecutor's office or the hotel to determine if they had videos of the incident. The league also failed to ask the Ravens if they had additional details about the controversial incident.

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