Timeline Roger Goodell

Commissioner of the NFL since 2006, after starting at the league as an intern. His tenure brought record media deals and revenue, a lockout, and the storms over concussions, Ray Rice and Deflategate.

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Dashed left edge = started before this timeline · Dashed right edge = still ongoing

Roger Goodell 19

1959 Roger Goodell born in Jamestown Roger Goodell is born in Jamestown, New York, son of the future US senator Charles Goodell.
1981 Roger Goodell graduates from Washington & Jefferson Goodell earns a degree in economics from Washington & Jefferson College.
1982 Roger Goodell joins the NFL as an intern Goodell starts as an administrative intern in the league office under Pete Rozelle.
1997 Roger Goodell marries Jane Skinner Goodell marries the television journalist Jane Skinner.
2001 Roger Goodell becomes NFL chief operating officer Paul Tagliabue names Goodell executive vice president and chief operating officer.
2006 Roger Goodell elected NFL commissioner The owners elect Goodell to succeed Paul Tagliabue. He takes office on 1 September.
2007 Roger Goodell tightens the personal conduct policy Goodell introduces stricter player discipline and suspends Pacman Jones for a season.
2007 Roger Goodell punishes the Patriots for Spygate Goodell fines Bill Belichick and the Patriots and strips a first-round draft pick.
2010 Roger Goodell sets a $25 billion revenue target Goodell predicts the league will reach $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027, from about $8 billion.
2011 Roger Goodell ends the NFL lockout A 4½-month lockout ends with a ten-year collective bargaining agreement.
2014 Roger Goodell faces the Ray Rice scandal After video of Ray Rice's assault surfaces, Goodell is criticised for his original two-game suspension.
2015 Roger Goodell suspends Tom Brady over Deflategate Goodell hands Tom Brady a four-game suspension, upheld in court in 2016.
2016 Roger Goodell oversees the Rams' return to Los Angeles Owners approve the Rams' move from St. Louis, bringing the NFL back to Los Angeles.
2018 Roger Goodell announces the anthem policy The league requires players on the field to stand for the anthem amid the protests started by Colin Kaepernick.
2020 Roger Goodell agrees a new players' contract The players ratify a new collective bargaining agreement through 2030.
2020 Roger Goodell admits the NFL was wrong on protests After the killing of George Floyd, Goodell says the league was wrong not to listen to players earlier.
2021 Roger Goodell signs record media deals The NFL agrees television deals worth more than $100 billion over eleven years.
2025 Roger Goodell's NFL reaches $23 billion in revenue League revenue reaches $23 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025.
2026 Roger Goodell's Super Bowl draws 125 million viewers Super Bowl LX draws an audience of about 125 million.