Roger Goodell is an American sports executive who has served as the Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) since 2006. His responsibilities include overseeing the league’s operations and management, as well as negotiating media contracts and collective bargaining agreements with players and owners. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his estimated net worth as of 2023 is around $200 million. His annual salary varies depending on his performance and the league’s revenue, but reports indicate that he earned $63.9 million per year in each of the past two fiscal years (2019-20 and 2020-21), making him one of the highest-paid executives across all industries. The majority of his salary comprises bonuses tied to the league’s growth and success, such as the $111.8 billion media rights deal secured in March 2021. Goodell’s contract runs through the 2023 season.
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Roger Goodell’s Life and Career
Roger Goodell is an American businessman who has served as the Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) since 2006. He was born on February 19, 1959, in Jamestown, New York, to Charles Ellsworth Goodell, a former U.S. senator, and Jean Rice Goodell. He graduated from Bronxville High School in 1977 and earned a degree in economics from Washington & Jefferson College in 1981.
Goodell’s journey in the NFL began in 1982 when he joined the league office in New York as an administrative intern under then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Subsequently, he worked as an intern and public relations assistant for the New York Jets from 1983 to 1987. In 1987, he became the assistant to the President of the American Football Conference, Lamar Hunt. Under the guidance of Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Goodell held various roles in football and business operations, eventually rising to the position of the NFL’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2001. In this role, he oversaw the league’s football operations, officiating, and business functions, including NFL Ventures, which manages media properties, marketing and sales, stadium development, and strategic planning. Goodell played a significant role in negotiating the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA and NFL owners in the summer of 2011. He also played a pivotal role in league expansion, realignment, and stadium development, which included launching the NFL Network in 2003 and securing new television agreements worth over $100 billion in 2021.
As Commissioner, Goodell has implemented several new policies, including a stricter personal conduct policy for players, an enhanced drug-testing policy that includes human growth hormone testing, and rules aimed at promoting player safety and reducing concussions. He has overseen the league’s expansion, including the addition of new teams in Houston (2002), Los Angeles (2016), Las Vegas (2020), and the planned addition of a team in London in 2025. Additionally, he played a key role in the establishment of the NFL Network, a cable channel dedicated to covering the league.
Goodell has faced criticism for his handling of high-profile issues, such as the league’s response to domestic violence cases involving players like Ray Rice and Greg Hardy, the controversy surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, and the investigation into allegations of cheating by the New England Patriots, known as “Deflategate.” However, he has also received praise for his efforts to grow the sport globally, increase its popularity in international markets such as Mexico, China, Germany, and Brazil, and his commitment to player safety and health initiatives, including supporting research on brain injuries and donating $100 million to medical research.
Roger Goodell is married to Jane Skinner Goodell, a former Fox News anchor who retired in 2010 to focus on their family. They have twin daughters born in 2001 and reside in Westchester County, New York. Goodell is an avid fan of Bruce Springsteen and has attended over 100 of his concerts. He is also a supporter of various charitable causes, including the United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
References:
- NFL’s Roger Goodell Reportedly Makes $63.9 Million Per Year – (forbes.com)
- How much money does Roger Goodell make per year? – NBC Sports
- Roger Goodell – Wikipedia
- Image from Getty Images
