HEADLINES

Extension For Goodell Probable

February 18th, 2022 at 7:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite previous reports that Roger Goodell would retire at the end of his current contract, a new deal may be in the works for the NFL commissioner, according to Ben Fischer and John Ourand of Sports Business Journal. 

Goodell recently wrapped up his 16th season as commissioner. Initially elected by NFL owners in 2006, Goodell’s seen extensions to his contract in 2009, 2012, and 2017. In terms of public standing, Goodell is in the best position of his career. As a longtime punching bag, usually with attention focused on his disciplinary procedures, Goodell is starting to earn some recognition from both owners and fans.

Under Goodell, the NFL has negotiated a bargaining agreement with the players union through the 2030 season and signed TV/media deals worth $113 billion through the 2033 season. Not only did the NFL navigate the minefield of the COVID-19 pandemic without losing a single game, but viewership increased by 10%. These accomplishments have endeared Goodell to NFL owners.

In the eyes of the public, Goodell is benefitting from a heightened awareness of NFL fans. Public outcry on issues, like the lack of minority coaching hires, has shifted aim from Goodell to owners, as fans start to learn who is really responsible for making those kinds of decisions. Scandals and allegations centered on owners like Stephen Ross, of the Dolphins, and Dan Snyder, of the Commanders, have worked to shift negative attention even further from Goodell and the NFL, specifically.

Even if owners were ready to move on from Goodell, a lack of a clear successor has them stalling for time. Since vacating the position of Chief Operating Officer to become commissioner, the two people who have filled the role have left. Tod Leiweke, who succeeded Goodell and held the COO position until 2018, would’ve been the obvious choice, but he resigned to become the president and CEO of the Seattle Kraken of the NHL, as well as a minority owner. Leiweke’s successor, Mary Ann Turcke, stepped down from the position in August of 2020, leaving the position vacant since then.

Three possible successors have been identified: Chief Media and Business Officer Brian Rolapp, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, and chief strategy officer Chris Halpin. Rolapp has long been viewed, internally, as the most logical candidate, but has done little to sell himself to owners. He did have a hand in the NFL’s mega-media deals. Halpin is an interesting candidate as he is credited for much of the NFL’s efforts on international expansion. Vincent played a huge part in the NFL’s navigation of the COVID-19 season. Discussions about possibly splitting the commissioner position into two separate leadership positions for football and business could be the eventual answer if owners don’t like their options past Goodell.

For now, though, it sounds like Goodell continues to be the man for the job. One owner was quoted saying, “He’s at the top of his game right now. Why would we want him walking out the door?” For what it’s worth, the NFL’s vice president of communications denied that there was any truth to the reports of contract negotiations.

Goodell has seen his salary increase with each new deal, though his current contract, estimated to have earned him $63.9MM over each of the past two seasons, is heavily incentive-laden. The 63-year-old would be 65 at the end of his current contract. An extension would likely make him the oldest person to have held the position with Paul Tagliabue retiring at 66 and Pete Rozelle walking away at 63. He is already set to pass Tagliabue for the title of second-longest-tenured NFL commissioner. If Goodell walked away in 2024 we would’ve served for 18 seasons, one more than Tagliabue. It’s unlikely that Goodell will reach Rozelle’s tenure of 29 years.

It does seem, though, that Goodell has a few more years left in him, if the reports are true. If a new extension is reached in the coming months, Goodell and the NFL will have a few more years to set up a replacement plan.

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