Roger Goodell‘s current contract runs through 2027, but his tenure as NFL commissioner could continue beyond that point. An extension is expected to receive approval from owners, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. 
The matter of another new contract was expected to be discussed yesterday during the owners meeting, but that did not prove to be the case. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) no conversations were held about another Goodell pact. The most recent extension in that respect took place in October 2023.
Goodell is currently 66, and finishing his current deal would take him past 20 years at the helm of the league (thus marking the second-longest run for an NFL commissioner). Another extension – which would be the fifth of his tenure – would obviously be a sign that retirement is not under consideration, though. Paul Tagliabue‘s successor has overseen the league through two CBAs and one media rights deal, with another agreement on the latter front likely coming soon.
Under Goodell, the NFL’s value and that of its franchises has soared. The recent sales of the Broncos and Commanders – for a combined price of $10.7 billion – illustrates that point. Revenues are expected to continue growing with a new, more lucrative broadcast deal and continued expansion of the NFL’s schedule at home and abroad. Earlier this year, it became clear an 18-game regular season with a total of 16 international games played per year is a target for the league.
Since taking over in 2006, Goodell has of course been the subject of criticism on a number of fronts. Matters such as the handling of suspensions as well as health and safety concerns (including concussions and playing surfaces) have been talking points for years, and that will likely continue into the future. It has long been clear, however, that the league’s owners are comfortable with the status quo when it comes to the NFL’s top executive position.
With discussions on this front being tabled, no timeline is in place for a new Goodell pact to be worked out. Plenty of time remains on his current deal, but a stint ranging beyond 2027 could very well be on the horizon.
booooo
I have one question. Why? Why not give someone else a chance. The last innovative thought this guy had was changing the toilet paper in the executive bathroom from Charmin to Kroger store brand. He’s brought nothing to the table and has tried to be sneaky with rule changes. There are quite a few great football minds available and this guy isn’t one of them. He’s had enough time to phone in his job for a huge paycheck, let someone else have a shot. This is MY opinion and only mine, so don’t have a stroke if you don’t agree.
The toilet paper in the executive bathroom was bought at the Kroger store and not Wal-mart? Yikes! Goodell can expect an angry call from the owner in Denver 🙂
While I agree with most everything you’ve written, I do wonder who would be next. Just take a look at MLB to get a sense of how a changing of the guard can go.
Manfred is arguably the worst commissioner of any major sport at any time in history. Goodell isn’t perfect but he may be the devil we know.
The reason is – the owners love him because he’s expanded the game and made them a lot of money. Fans hate him though, hence the boos he gets at the draft.
Jeffrey Lurie punching air right now
“Under Goodell, the NFL’s value and that of its franchises has soared”.
I’d argue that this would have been the case regardless of who the smiling pitch man was. Under Goodell’s leadership the integrity of the league has suffered one embarrassing hit after another (and if this guy is considering allowing Henry Ruggs back in the league then that trend will continue). Of course Goodell will have no problem getting another contract extension because the owners pretense that they care about the fans is a total sham. The on field product they are fobbing off on fans continues to get worse and nothing is ever done about the incompetent officiating of games.
I don’t know why people hate on Goodell. I know he can feel like he has too much power and that he doesn’t always do the most popular thing, but he’s kept the sport growing and popular through all the scandals and of all the 4 major sports in the best place. When he wants something to get done (outside the tush push ban) it almost always gets done. A lot of the dislike of him was the same David Stern. Give me Goodell over Silver, Bettman, or Manfred.
I think the only time Goodell earned his salary or proved himself useful was when the NFL got blindsided by the Covid pandemic. He handled that difficult situation as well as could be expected. The rest of the time he’s just a snake oil salesman that has no problem being a hypocrite.
I don’t care if a commissioner is a hypocrite a not his job is to grow and sell the game and keep it entertaining.
A lot of fans aren’t entertained when they see quality sacrificed for quantity…but your entitled to your opinion.
I agree the quality has dropped off, I just disagree on how to assign blame. For example, a lot of the quality of play going down has to deal with the CBA and the NFLPA wanting less padded practices and less overall practice time. That’s not a Goodell decision that’s a negotiation and it wasn’t a change Goodell or the owners pushed for. What I blame on Goodell are things like how many games now are played outside the US or the fact that we have some playoff games now on subscription only services like Peacock.
The NFLPA isn’t helping matters much either. I’m not even sure they know what their own priorities are. They want less padded practices for players as you stated but oppose participation in non contact flag football…lol. I guess there’s some form of logic to their approach but it’s lost on me.
Let’s not blame the NFLPA for something Roger and the owners created themselves. You have to match the approach of your opponent across the table, and the NFL owners bear the responsibility for chewing through bodies and careers to line their own pockets. The NFLPA has attempted to match that strategy of business and negotiation, and the current relationship between the two parties is a direct result of that.
It’s clear that the human body is not designed to withstand 16 NFL games in 17 weeks. The owners and Goodell have now pushed for 18 games, plus an extra wild card round, plus international travel, plus season-long documentary access.
Wanting to relieve the bodies of the extra punishment added to it by your employer by not also having full contact practices is very reasonable.
I do believe an equilibrium exists where owners acknowledge the sacrifice of health for proper compensation of the players. But if the tactics are going to be cutthroat for every penny available, continued non guaranteed contracts for the game with the most physical injuries, it’s makes no sense to blame the players for the current state of the game. You must protect yourself at all costs.
Quite simply, you get what you pay for.
You want 18 games with the best talent available? You can’t destroy bodies on Tuesday and Wednesday. You want every offense and defense to be well practiced and all loose ends tightened up? Play less games and practice more. But if it’s profit over everything, don’t be surprised when the NFLPA conducts its business the same way.
Well said.
@Druuu / While Goodell and the owners are the major culprits the players and their union contribute to the problems. The players are just as greedy as the owners and that makes the fans the real losers. The players go to the union and complain that playing extra games will result in injuries that will shorten their career. This is an entirely valid point but alas when the players learn they will get a larger revenue share and there will be more cap money for salaries what happens?
The sport may be popular–it wont go to flag football till nearly 2040–but Goodell has helped water down team defense in favor of offense,to a game much older fans barely recognize. Las Vegas Hotels/Sportsbooks will probably pay as much of his salary as the owners …
A couple of things I don’t like is the games being on Thursday nights, and the games overseas. I admit he’s done a great job of making the owners richer. I think if you asked players their thoughts on Thursday games, and playing overseas, the overwhelming majority would say they hate it.
Guess this means more games outside of the Us.
Goodell is a cuck yeah I said it. He walks like a cuck, talks like a cuck, watches games like a cuck so he must be. But the NFL generates money under him and overseas. The league was always going to get bigger in US. Roger didn’t do much to really expand.