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Roger Goodell is expected to receive his fourth contract extension from the NFL to continue as league commissioner, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract is set to be finalized at the NFL owners’ meetings in Phoenix, next week.
“He’s turned the league into a money-making machine where the league is the enemy of all other sports leagues in terms of the products they put out, the value of the franchises and the media rights fees,” Schefter said.
League Success Under Goodell
Under Goodell’s authority, the NFL continues to accumulate more revenue than any other sports league. In 2021, the NFL finalized a media rights deal worth more than $100 billion over 11 years with Amazon Prime, ESPN, Fox, NBC and CBS.
Goodell has also succeeded in his efforts to expand the league’s brand into foreign territory through the NFL International Series. The series was launched in 2007. The International Series features NFL regular season games in London, Mexico City and Munich.
Goodell, 64, worked for almost 20 years in the league office before landing the job as the NFL’s Chief Operating Officer in 2001. Goodell then began his stint as NFL commissioner after replacing Paul Tagliabue in 2006. He is currently the second-longest tenured commissioner behind Pete Rozelle who served as commissioner from 1960-1989.
“We’ve seen other commissioners at his age step aside” Schefter said. Pete Rozelle was 63 years old, and Paul Tagliabue was 65 years old when they left as commissioner.
Although nothing has been confirmed of Goodell’s deal, it is expected to be a record extension among commissioners across sports. Goodell, who is currently on a deal worth up to $200 million, would be in for another staggering payday.
Goodell previously signed extensions in 2009, 2012 and 2017. His current contract is set to expire in March 2024, but a multi-year extension would likely keep Goodell as commissioner through 2027.
