Roger Goodell has overseen a period of exponential growth since being named NFL commissioner in 2006.
The savvy businessman has secured lucrative media deals for the league with companies like NBC, Fox and Amazon.
He has also forged multi-billion dollar streaming deals with Netflix and YouTube to change the landscape of sports broadcasting.
The NFL International Series has also been a smash hit with huge fanbases springing up all over the globe. Brazil hosted its first in 2024 and Spain will join the growing list of countries this year.
Thanks to its global popularity, the average value of an NFL franchise is $6.5 billion, with the $11 billion Dallas Cowboys the world’s most valuable sports team.
Goodell has been an important figure in this success and is rewarded handsomely for his efforts.
The 64-year-old’s latest three-year extension sees his contract run until March 2027.
Unlike players, his Salary is not disclosed, but Goodell reportedly earned $63.9 million for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
$63.9 million annually higher than Dak Prescott — the highest paid NFL star ever.
The Cowboys quarterback signed a new five-year deal worth a staggering $240,000,000 million or $60 million per year.
Mahomes technically has a bigger contract worth $450 million, but it’s over ten years, meaning his yearly salary is $45 million, almost $20 million less per year than Goodell’s past estimate.
The Kansas City Chiefs star’s contract was restructured to earn him $210.6 million between 2023 and 2026 and could be adjusted again in 2025.
Goodell also earns more annually than a all of the league’s biggest stars including Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ($51 million), who will take on Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
The commissioner’s latest extension is also thought to be ‘incentive-laden’ and potentially ‘the most lucrative deal ever given to any commissioner in any sport’.
“It really was quite simple, honestly,” Goodell said about his deal.
“It was just a matter of getting to it, frankly. It wasn’t much of a discussion. It was pretty quick.
“I’m obviously honoured to do this job.”
Goodell will give his state of the league address on Monday — six days before the Super Bowl.
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Financially, he will have plenty to shout about with even the league’s least valuable franchise, the Cincinnati Bengals, worth $5.25 billion.
But fans are growing increasingly frustrated at the standard of officiating and lack of technology used to make big calls.
Goodell is also keen to increase the season to 18 games.
“If we continue to focus on the safety, I think 18 is a potential,” he told Bloomberg. “We would take a preseason game away. So we would keep within that 20-game framework.
“We actually started at 14 games and six preseason. We went to 16 and four, and now 17 and three (from 2021). “‘So 18 and two is a logical step. But we would only do that with the players (in agreement).”
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