• Loading stock data...
Saturday, November 2, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

Contract Extension Could Put Roger Goodell In Rarified Air

  • NFL commissioner is believed to have already earned nearly $500 million.
  • Goodell’s most recent annual compensation was reportedly more than $60 million.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell’s next contract extension could take him past three-quarters of a billion dollars in career earnings as NFL commissioner.

The league is working to keep Goodell — whose deal expires in 2024 — in place through 2027, when he’ll turn 67, in a deal that many believe will be his last. 

Goodell was hired in 2006 for a reported compensation of about $6.5 million. His most recent annual salary is believed to be nearly $64 million — which means Goodell’s pay has increased nearly tenfold since taking over the NFL’s top job.

This latest deal could push Goodell’s personal wealth into the stratosphere.

Using the NFL’s tax filings from 2006-15 and various reports since the league gave up its tax-exempt status, a conservative estimate would put Goodell’s earnings to date at close to $500 million.

By 2027, he could be expected to easily eclipse $700 million in earnings or even more, given the league’s ever-growing revenue — from deals like the current $10 billion bundle of annual media rights through the next decade.

Some owners might even want Goodell to stay beyond 2027 — and it wouldn’t be the first time Goodell has backed away from the idea of retirement. In 2017, former NFL communications executive Joe Lockhart said the commissioner viewed his current deal as his last.

A League Of His Own

Goodell’s current salary dwarfs those of his contemporaries.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred appears to be the closest at a reported $17.5 million per year, with the NBA’s Adam Silver reportedly at $10 million.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Rays’ Future Uncertain As Tropicana Field Repairs Begin

The Rays still don’t know where they will play in 2025.
Adam Schefter

Adam Schefter Uses Same Pirated NFL Clips As Everyone Else

ESPN’s NFL insider posted a video from an illegal stream Thursday night.

Could Amazon Make Black Friday a Legitimate Sports Holiday?

Prime made waves by putting an NFL game on Black Friday. The NBA is on the way.

Inside Cosm’s Plans for a Fourth Location—and Beyond

The downtown Detroit site will add to the city’s sports and entertainment district.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

First-Ever 12-Team CFP Takes Shape

0:00

Featured Today

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.
October 31, 2024

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
October 28, 2024

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.
FuboTV signage
opinion
October 26, 2024

Fubo’s Fight Against Streaming Giants Feels Futile

Fubo notched a legal win, but subs and stock still slump.

Everyone Wants In on the WNBA Expansion Gold Rush

There are 10 to 12 cities interested in a WNBA expansion team.
Oct 31, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in game four to win the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium.
October 31, 2024

Dodgers Winning Formula Blends Underdog Spirit With Big Dollars

Team officials point to an “opportunistic” mindset as it overcame numerous injuries and setbacks.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) works around New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center.
October 31, 2024

Unrivaled Expands While Keeping Seat Warm for Caitlin Clark

The women’s basketball league is adding six roster spots to bring the total to 36.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) reacts to scoring a touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) in the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
October 31, 2024

Here’s Every NFL Team Linked to Private Equity Investments

The NFL gave the O.K. in August for PE firms to buy up to 10% of a franchise.
October 30, 2024

Money Well Spent: Dodgers Top Yankees in World Series

The financially robust MLB club wins its first full-season league championship since 1988.
Nick Dunlap of Tuscaloosa, Ala., tees off on the 18th during the third round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
October 30, 2024

PGA Tour Could Get More Exclusive Under Proposed Rule Changes

This is the latest move to consolidate more prize money and rankings points.
October 30, 2024

Yankees Stay Alive, but N.Y. Ticket Prices One-Third of L.A. Rates

Prices remain way down for the final World Series game at Yankee Stadium.