Last Updated on March 2, 2024
Roger Stokoe Goodell is an American businessman who’s the current commissioner of the National Football League (NFL).
Goodell was chosen as NFL commissioner on August 8, 2006, and officially assumed office on September 1, 2006. He succeeded Paul Tagliabue.
Roger Goodell Quick Facts
Full Name: | Roger Stokoe Goodell |
Popular Name: | Roger Goodell |
Nicknames: | N/A |
Birth Date: | February 19, 1959 |
Age: | 64 years |
Parents: | Charles Ellsworth Goodell and Jean Rice Goodell |
Siblings: | 4, including Michael C.E. Goodell and Timothy “Tim” Bartlett Goodell |
Birth Place: | Jamestown, New York, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | White |
Religion: | Unknown |
Education: | Bronxville High School and Washington & Jefferson College |
Marital Status: | Married to former Fox News Channel anchor Jane Skinner (since October 1997) |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Children: | Twin daughters |
Net Worth: | USD 200 million |
Source of Wealth: | The NFL and Other Ventures |
Height: | 5′ 11″ (1.80 m) |
Weight: | In kilograms: 85 kg; In pounds: 187 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Early Life
Roger Stokoe Goodell was born on February 19, 1959, in Jamestown, New York, United States, to Charles Ellsworth Goodell and Jean Rice Goodell. His father is a former congressman who served as U.S Senator for New York.
Goodell attended Bronxville High School, during which he played football, baseball, and basketball. After graduating from Bronxville, he joined Washington & Jefferson College based in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Roger suffered severe injuries in college and could no longer play college football. He eventually graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 1981 with a degree in economics.
Career Information
Roger Goodell joined the NFL in 1982 as an unpaid administrative intern in the league’s office based in New York. He then had a short stint as an intern for the New York Jets before returning to the NFL office in 1984.
After several months interning at NFL’s New York office, Goodell became the assistant to the American Football Conference president. He held several jobs in the league until he made Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2001.
On August 8, 2006, Goodell was voted as the next NFL commissioner following Paul Tagliabue’s retirement. He officially assumed office on September 1, 2006.
Roger Goodell is widely regarded as one of the most influential commissioners in NFL history. But his tenure hasn’t been without setbacks. The league has been rocked with numerous scandals under Goodell’s watch. Notable mentions include the Spygate scandal in 2007, the Bountygate scandal in 2012, and the Deflategate scandal in 2018.
Roger Goodell’s Net Worth
Roger Goodell has a staggering net worth of $200 million, as at November 1, 2022. The NFL has contributed the vast majority of his fortune. Goodell is one of the highest-paid commissioners in the league’s history.
On average, Goodell earns $45 million annually in NFL salary and bonuses. However, his salary has topped $50 million in recent years. He sometimes earns upwards of $60 million annually from the NFL alone.
Bonuses account for the bulk of Roger Goodell’s NFL earnings. In a typical year, the commissioner makes around $7 million in base salary. Bonuses take up the rest of his NFL earnings, which average $40 to $50 million.
It’s also important to note that Goodell’s NFL salary has been on a steady increase since he assumed office as the league’s commissioner. He earned $6 million in 2007, $12 million in 2008 and 2009, and $10 million in 2009 and 2010.
Below are Goodell’s other NFL earnings over the years;
• $12 million in 2011
• $29.5 million in 2012
• $44.2 million in 2013
• $45 million in 2014
• $40 million in 2015
• $45 million in 2016
• $45 million in 2017
• $40 million in 2018
• $50 million in 2019
• $50 million in 2020
• $64 million in 2021
Evidently, Roger Goodell has earned over $490 million from NFL alone. And that excludes his pre-2007 earnings, which aren’t available to the public.
Lessons from Roger Goodell
1. Give a good account of yourself
Roger Goodell was initially not the favorite pick for the position of NFL commissioner. Although he was selected over four finalists, he won a closely-contested vote on the 5th ballot. Knowing what was at stake, Goodell immediately embarked on a mission to transform the NFL. He has played an instrumental role in revolutionizing the league during his tenure.
2. It’s okay to start small
Goodell joined the NFL as an unpaid administrative intern. He didn’t mind starting at the lowest steps of the NFL ladder as he believed he would eventually rise to the league’s summit.
3. Strive to build an enviable reputation
Roger Goodell is renowned for his high sense of integrity and no-nonsense approach to important issues touching on the NFL. Goodell has actually stated that his number-one priority is to protect the league’s integrity.
Famous Quotes by Roger Goodell
• Change before you’re forced to change.
• I don’t expect to try to get people to like everything I do. I want them to respect what I do.
• The draft is one of my favorite events because it is about football. People are focused on how their teams improve. It’s a celebration of football. And most importantly, it represents a very important time in the lives of these men who are entering the NFL, and their families.
• The one thing I would hope would go on my tombstone is, ‘I made my parents proud.’
• The way you continue to be a successful business is you don’t wait for the car to go off the cliff. You have to manage yourself. And make sure you do it in the right way so you are not making decisions in crisis.
Wrap Up
Roger Goodell is an NFL commissioner whose sole commitment is transforming the league’s reputation nationally and globally.
Goodell has earned around $500 million from NFL since he became commissioner in 2006. His current net worth is $200 million.