Roger Goodell has served as the NFL‘s commissioner since 2006, guiding the league to continued growth as the world’s most valuable sports league and global popularity.
Well, Goodell isn’t going anywhere: he signed a three-year extension in Oct. 2023 to remain in his role for the foreseeable future. Let’s break down Goodell’s new contract, salary, and net worth.
Roger Goodell’s Sizable Salary
Goodell has been one of the highest-paid executives across sports since taking over as the NFL commissioner in 2006. He received contract extensions in 2009, 2012, 2017, and 2023 to remain in the role amid the league’s continued success.
Although Goodell’s exact salary has not been public for many of those years, The New York Times reported that he earned nearly $64 million per year for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years. That means Goodell is earning more than any NFL player, as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently became the highest-paid player in league history, with an average annual value of $60 million.
Also, for comparison, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly earns $11 million annually.
The deal Goodell signed in 2017 that took effect in 2019 was reportedly worth up to $200 million, with much of the money tied to meeting league goals (financial and otherwise).
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.
Goodell’s salary used to be a set figure agreed upon by the NFL’s owners (his bosses), but a dispute between Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the owners’ compensation committee led to his contract being restructured to feature significantly more performance-based bonuses rather than guaranteed salary, according to The Times.
Roughly 90% of Goodell’s salary across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years reportedly came from performance-based bonuses due to securing favorable labor and media deals.
The league is set to bring in at least $125.5 billion in broadcasting revenue over the next decade, according to Forbes. The NFL also signed a new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ association in 2020 that will run through 2030.
Goodell’s Net Worth
What is the NFL commissioner’s net worth? Multiple sites estimate that it is $250 million while others have his net worth a bit lower (at approximately $200 million).
Given the reports about his salary and his new deal with the NFL, this estimate seems pretty accurate. For reference, this means that Goodell has the same net worth as legendary NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Goodell’s new contract with the NFL is “the most lucrative deal ever given to any commissioner in any sport.”
How does Goodell’s net worth compare to other commissioners?
The NBA’s commissioner Adam Silver and MLB’s commish Manfred both have a net worth of approximately $40 million.
It’s safe to say that Goodell is doing very well for himself and benefitting quite a bit from the NFL’s recent success.