Robert Kraft delivers massive news on Roger Goodell’s future to NFL owners just days before new season begins
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has signed a new four-season extension to remain in his role until the end of the 2030 season.
Goodell’s contract was up at the end of the season after a 2023 announcement that he had signed a new deal. But NFL owners were informed just days before the first game of the new season that he has finalized another new deal, that expires on March 31, 2031.
Goodell’s new contract expires at the same time as the current NFL collective bargaining agreement with players. By the end date, Goodell will have been in the role for 24 years and will be 71 years old.
The news was delivered in a memo sent by Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in his role as chairman of the NFL Compensation Committee.
The memo, released by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, read: ‘As members of the Compensation Committee, we’re pleased to announce that we have reached agreement with Roger to remain as Commissioner through the 2030 League Season, ending on March 31, 2031.
‘Throughout the negotiation process, the Committee worked closely with an independent third-party compensation consultant and outside counsel to structure a deal that aligns Roger’s compensation with the League’s long-term interests and success.
Roger Goodell is staying on as NFL Commissioner for another four years
Robert Kraft delivered the news to his fellow owners that Goodell had finalized an extension
‘To that end, the agreement is heavily performance based, with more than 95% of the total compensation tied to Roger’s and the NFL’s performance measured against various metrics and at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
‘We believe we are very fortunate to have Roger at the helm for the next four years. If any of you has any questions, please reach out to any of us.’
The memo was signed by Kraft and his fellow Compensation Committee members – John Mara (Giants), Shad Khan (Jaguars), Jimmy Haslam (Browns), Michael Bidwill (Cardinals) and Greg Penner (Broncos).
Goodell’s last new contract was announced at a later stage, at the league’s October Fall League Meeting in 2023. When that news was announced, he said: ‘I’m obviously honored to do this job.
‘It’s not going to change how I’m approaching my day to day job, and it hasn’t to date.’
He took over from the retiring Paul Tagliabue in 2006, and this is his fifth extension after signing new terms in 2009, 2012, 2017 and 2023. He began his tenure with the league as an administrative intern back in 1982.
At the time of his last extension, Goodell admitted: ‘From my standpoint, there’s still a number of things we want to do as a league.
‘It’s not my agenda. As a matter of fact, when we talked about the long-range plan we talked about this is your long-range plan, this is our long-range plan. There are lot of challenges out there, but there are also a lot of opportunities for us, and we’re focused on how we make the NFL better every day, how we become a global sport.
‘I think some very exciting things are happening in that context and I feel really good about where the National Football League is today, but we don’t sit around and tell ourselves that. We really shouldn’t, and we really focus on what are the things we need to do.’
He has always been adamant that he will not discuss his ‘legacy’ while still in the role.
‘If I was focusing on my legacy, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you,’ Goodell told reporters in 2023. ‘I wouldn’t have signed an extension. My job is to be Commissioner of the National Football League.
‘Do the best I can, and that’s what I’m going to do. You guys can decide legacies later. That’s not what I’m focused on. I’m focused on what we can accomplish as a league.’
