Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, citing numerous league sources, reports that commissioner Roger Goodell’s newly signed contract extension through 2023 will mark the end of his tenure as commissioner.
According to La Canfora, one of Goodell’s primary goals in the coming years will be to identify a possible replacement to take over for him as NFL commissioner.
Several league sources who spoke to La Canfora indicated that it’s a possibility Goodell steps aside, even before his contract is officially up in 2024. Although, Goodell is expected to complete the upcoming labor and broadcast negotiations.
La Canfora says that Goodell is hopeful of having a potential successor in place by 2020 who could learn on the job from that point forward. Even so, the NFL is not expected formally recognize this person as a “commissioner-in-waiting” but the understanding would be that this person is training for the position.
On Wednesday, NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said that Goodell’s new extension through 2023 is likely to be his final contract.
“The commissioner has been clear he views this as his last contract,” Goodell said, per Mark Maske.
According to Lockhardt, Goodell’s new five-year extension is 90 percent performance-based and he will pay for his use of a private jet.
In total, Goodell’s new contract with the NFL can be worth up to $200 million, which comes out to $40 million per year.
Goodell, 58, was hired as the NFL’s commissioner in 2006, replacing Paul Tagliabue. His contract was extended in 2009 and again in 2012.
During his first 10 years as commissioner, Goodell earned $212.5 million including nearly $32 million in the 2015 fiscal year.
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