Roger Goodell has reached an agreement on a contract extension that will keep him as NFL Commissioner through March 31, 2031. The NFL’s Compensation Committee communicated the deal to team owners, with the notification occurring on Sunday. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and chairman of the compensation committee, conveyed the agreement in a memo obtained by The Associated Press.
Kraft stated that the league’s ownership views the agreement favorably, noting that the committee worked with an independent compensation consultant and outside legal counsel to structure the deal. According to Kraft, the agreement prioritizes alignment between Goodell’s compensation and the league’s long-term interests. The arrangement emphasizes performance-based compensation, with over 95 percent of the total package tied to measurable metrics and subject to the committee’s discretion.
The specific financial terms of the extension have not been disclosed. Goodell earned $63.9 million during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, according to reports. The NFL office no longer operates as a tax-exempt trade association, which means the league is not obligated to publicly report the commissioner’s annual compensation.
Goodell, 67, is receiving his fifth contract extension since assuming the commissioner role in 2006, succeeding Paul Tagliabue. He originally joined the NFL in 1982 as an administrative intern under then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle. During Goodell’s tenure, the league has experienced significant growth in both popularity and revenue. Recent franchise transactions underscore this expansion, including the Washington Commanders sale for $6.05 billion in 2023 and the Seattle Seahawks sale for $9.612 billion this offseason.
The extension’s expiration date aligns with the end of the current players’ collective bargaining agreement, which is also scheduled to expire in March 2031. The league continues broadening its international presence, with a record nine international games scheduled for the current season.
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