Roger Goodell became the NFL’s Commissioner twenty years ago next month. His tenure is expected to continue beyond the expiration of his current contract in March.
Mark Maske reports for _Front Office Sports_ that NFL owners expect to extend Goodell’s deal “[in the coming months](https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-owners-expect-new-deal-for-roger-goodell/).” That’s cutting it close, for both sides.
The owners will have a special meeting in August to vote on the proposed sale of the Seahawks. They’ll then have regular-scheduled meetings in October and December. They could, in theory, finalize Goodell’s deal at any of those meetings. Or, if necessary, they could schedule another special session.
Goodell has plenty of leverage. With broadcast-rights extensions lingering and a labor fight with the NFL Players Association looming, the NFL doesn’t need to be breaking in new leadership while trying to get those deals done.
There’s no reason to think it won’t get done. Goodell, 68, has shown no inclination to retire. And the clunky effort by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to play hardball with the guy whose name is on every football (which entailed an assist from Papa John, of all people) was a one-time thing.
Hovering over the situation continues to be the question of succession. There’s no clear in-house candidate to take the reins, whenever Goodell moves on. Whether deliberate or coincidental or a combination of the two, lieutenants who begin to attract attention as potential future commissioners don’t seem to stick around for very long.
The NFL has had only three Commissioners since 1960: Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue, and Goodell. The owners like to hire the right person, and to keep that person in place as long as possible.
Still, it’s a big job. And it’s getting bigger all the time. It will not be easy to replace Goodell, whether that happens in eight months, in eight years, or when Goodell turns 80.
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