The NFL has given commissioner Roger Goodell a five-year contract, but the league says it will be his last as Goodell winds down his career.
Nobody would say that Roger Goodell has had an easy tenure with the NFL. Some would argue that Goodell should be let go and replaced immediately, but that won’t happen, as it’s been announced that he will be on for five more years. However, those five will be his final as commissioner.
NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart says @nflcommish has been clear: This 5-year contract extension will be his last. And he’ll spend timing working on helping find a successor.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 13, 2017
This should come as welcome news in a way, with the end in sight. Goodell has been the commissioner since taking over for Paul Tagliabue back in 2006. Since then, the league has seen its bet ratings and continued growth with continued parity, increased interesting the draft and combine, and marketing that is unparalleled by any North American sport.
However, there have also been ample issues throughout his time at the helm. The NFL has gone through a litany of CTE-related problems, including former players Dave Duerson and Junior Sean famously committing suicide.
Next: Every NFL Team's Biggest Draft Whiff Of All-Time
There have also been valid complaints about the way the league has handled punishments, ranging from the domestic violence cases of Ray Rice, Josh Brown and Greg Hardy to the DeflateGate situation, that landed Tom Brady a four-game suspension. Most-recently, we saw Ezekiel Elliott battle the NFL deep into the season through the courts, only to ultimately serve a controversial six-game ban.
Goodell will have to serve his term with one more CBA negotiation coming due in 2020, something that will likely be a barometer of this final contract’s success.