The NFL announced its gift to Roger Goodell this week for his 20th year on the job: four more years.
Goodell, the most powerful man in North American sports, has signed another contract extension as the league’s commissioner, the league announced Sunday. The 67-year-old is currently under contract through the 2030 season, which coincides with the expiration of the current collective agreement.
The salary terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Goodell is reported to be making more than $60 million annually. Any raise — not to mention other perks like health care and private plane travel — would put Goodell ahead of the league’s highest-paid players.
The NFL’s compensation committee, chaired by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, worked with an independent third-party compensation consultant and outside counsel to try to structure a contract that “aligns Rodger’s compensation with the long-term interests and success of the league.” The athletics.
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The memo reads: “To that end, the agreement is performance-based, with more than 95 percent of total compensation tied to Roger and the NFL’s performance based on various metrics and the compensation committee’s discretion.”
“We believe we are very fortunate to have Roger at the helm for the next four years.”
This is Goodell’s fifth contract extension — he previously agreed to new deals in 2009, 2012, 2017 and 2023 — since taking over for Paul Tagliabue in September 2006.
Neither Goodell nor the NFL have given any sign of slowing down.
With the salary cap breaking the $300 million threshold for the first time, the NFL remains the king of American sports. The legalization of sports gambling has brought billions into the league, and Group reviews more than doubled. In less than 10 years.
Goodell’s latest extension is about to expire, as is the league’s 10-year contract with the union. But the league has given every indication it wants to work out a new deal well before that deadline. Central to that deal will be an 18th regular season game as well as further international expansion as the league continues to be the premier global presence.
Goodell will only go after Pete Rozelle during his tenure as NFL commissioner. Rozelle held the position for 29 years before retiring, and Goodell will need several more extensions to capture the legend.
After taking over, Goodell led the league to new heights in sales and revenue.
The league had revenue of about $23 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025. Like Sportico. That number is significant because in 2010 — when league revenue was around $8 billion — Goodell set a goal of hitting $25 billion by 2027.
Under Goodell, the NFL has increased its value in the lucrative media rights market. The NFL is in the midst of 11-year deals with networks and streaming partners worth more than $110 billion. In January Government regulators are approved ESPN’s multibillion-dollar acquisition of several NFL media assets, which would give the NFL a 10 percent ownership stake in the Disney-owned network, is worth billions.
Goodell was also instrumental in the NFL’s global reach. In 2026 The league will play a record 9 international gamesspread across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.
