Roger Goodell has held some kind of role in the NFL for over four decades now. He was voted the NFL Commissioner in 2006, becoming the sixth man in history to hold the position.
As he sets out to bring in more talent in the league at the 2025 NFL Draft, let’s examine his age and years of experience.
How Old Is Roger Goodell?
Goodell was born on February 19, 1959, in Jamestown, New York, and is currently 66 years old. He is the son of former United States Senator Charles Ellsworth Goodell of New York and his first wife, Jean Goodell, of Buffalo, New York.
Goodell attended Bronxville High School in New York, where he was a three-sport star. He played football, baseball, and basketball, and was the captain of all three teams in his senior year.
However, injuries hampered Goodell from playing in college, and he graduated with a degree in Economics from Washington & Jefferson College in 1981. A year later, he was in the NFL as an administrative intern.
Goodell’s Roles in the NFL Over the Years
Roger Goodell’s NFL career began in 1982, when he secured an administrative internship at the league’s New York office by writing to all 28 teams and the league headquarters. He briefly left the NFL in 1983 to join the New York Jets but returned the following year to work in the league’s public relations department.
Goodell remained in that role until 1987, when he was appointed assistant to Lamar Hunt, then president of the American Football Conference. In 1990, he began working under commissioner Paul Tagliabue, taking on a wide range of responsibilities across both football and business operations.
In December 2001, Goodell was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he oversaw officiating and football operations, while also leading NFL Ventures—the division responsible for strategic planning, stadium development, and other key business initiatives. He played a central role in the league’s international expansion, the launch of the NFL Network in 2003, and negotiations surrounding television rights and the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association.
Following Tagliabue’s retirement in 2006, Goodell was named one of four finalists to become the NFL’s sixth commissioner. After five rounds of voting, he was selected over Gregg Levy, the league’s longtime outside counsel. Goodell was officially named commissioner on August 8, 2006, and formally took over the role on September 1.
Goodell’s Current NFL Salary
The NFL has seen a significant rise in popularity since Goodell took over as the commissioner in 2006. His most notable contributions include the start of the NFL International Series in 2007, whose first game saw the New York Giants face the Miami Dolphins in front of 81,000 people at Wembley Stadium in London.
Goodell has earned a hefty salary as NFL commissioner over the years. While his salary and contract details are not disclosed as those of players, The New York Times reported that he earned nearly $64 million per year for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years, which is higher than what Dak Prescott ($60 million) is getting as the highest paid NFL player in 2025.
Goodell signed a new three-year extension in 2023 that keeps him in the role until 2027, and given the league’s continued growth, it’s very possible that Goodell’s current deal pays him significantly more than he was making in 2019 and 2020.