Roger Goodell

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Roger Goodell
Date of birth: February 19, 1959 (1959-02-19) (age 49)
Place of birth: Jamestown, New York
Career information
Status: Active
Position(s): Commissioner
Jersey №: None
College: Washington & Jefferson College
Organizations
 As administrator:
2006-present NFL Commissioner

Roger S. Goodell (born February 19, 1959, in Jamestown, New York[1]) is the Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the owners.[2][3] He officially began his tenure on September 1, 2006, just prior to the beginning of the 2006 NFL season.[4] As Commissioner, he is also President of NFL Charities.[5]

Contents

[edit] Background

Goodell is the son of the late United States Senator Charles E. Goodell, a Republican from New York.

The Goodell family moved to Bronxville, New York, in 1971, where Roger graduated from high school. A three-sport star for Bronxville High School in football, basketball, and baseball, Goodell captained all three teams as a senior and was named the athlete of the year at Bronxville High.[6]

Goodell is a 1981 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.[1][7][8]

[edit] NFL career

[edit] From intern to COO

Goodell's career in the NFL began in 1982 as an administrative intern in the league office in New York under then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle - a position secured through an extensive letter-writing campaign to the league office and each of its then 28 teams. In 1983, he joined the New York Jets as an intern, but returned to the league office in 1984 as an assistant in the public relations department.

In 1987, Goodell was appointed assistant to the president of the American Football Conference (Lamar Hunt), and under the tutelage of Commissioner Paul Tagliabue filled a variety of football and business operations roles, culminating with his appointment as the NFL's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2001.

As the NFL's COO, Goodell took responsibility for the league's football operations and officiating, as well as supervised league business functions. He headed NFL Ventures, which oversees the league's business units, including media properties, marketing and sales, stadium development and strategic planning.

Goodell was heavily involved in the negotiation of the league's current collective bargaining agreement. He had worked extensively with Tagliabue since the latter became commissioner in 1989.[4] He has played an extensive role in league expansion, realignment, and stadium development, including the launch of the NFL Network and securing new television agreements as well as the latest collective bargaining agreement with the National Football League Players Association.

[edit] NFL commissioner

Goodell's selection as Commissioner following the retirement of Paul Tagliabue came as no surprise, but it was not a fait accompli. Tagliabue initiated a substantive, wide ranging search for his successor, appointing a committee headed by owners Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers and Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Goodell was one of five finalists, joining Gregg Levy, Frederick Nance, Robert Reynolds, and Mayo Shattuck III. With 22 votes from the owners being needed to make a choice, Goodell, who oddsmakers had installed as a prohibitive 2:5 favorite to be selected, only garnered 15 votes to Levy's 13, with three votes scattered among the other candidates and the Oakland Raiders abstaining.

On the second and third ballots, Goodell and Levy were the only candidates to receive votes (Goodell 17, Levy 14). Goodell increased his lead to 21-10 after the fourth ballot, falling one vote shy of election, but on the fifth round of voting two owners swung their votes to him to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority.[3] The Oakland Raiders abstained from the voting in each round.

Goodell was chosen on August 8, 2006, to succeed Paul Tagliabue and assumed office on September 1—the date Tagliabue set to leave office.

[edit] Actions as commissioner

For more details on Roger Goodell's actions on NFL player conduct, see National Football League player conduct controversy.
Further information: Spygate

In November 2006, amid rumors that the NFL may expand outside of the United States, Goodell stated "I don't know if it will become a reality, but it is certainly a possibility."[9]

In April 2007, following a year of significant scandal surrounding some NFL players' actions off-the-field, Goodell announced a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy. Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry were the first two players to be suspended under the new policy,[10] and Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank Johnson was suspended months later due to his conduct involving weapon ownership and drunk driving. On August 31, 2007, Goodell suspended Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson five games and US$100,000, and New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison four games without pay, after they admitted the use of banned substances for medical purposes and to accelerate healing, respectively. The league indicated to Wilson that his more severe penalty was because they held "people in authority in higher regard than people on the field."[11]

Date Suspended Suspension Length Name Position Team
April 10, 2007 Entire 2007 season Adam "Pacman" Jones[10] Cornerback Tennessee Titans (later Dallas Cowboys)
First 8 games of 2007 season Chris Henry[10] Wide receiver Cincinnati Bengals
June 4, 2007 First 10 games of 2007 season Terry "Tank" Johnson[12] Defensive tackle Chicago Bears (later Dallas Cowboys)
August 24, 2007 Indefinite Michael Vick[13] Quarterback Atlanta Falcons
Johnson was released by the Chicago Bears on June 25, 2007.[14] He has since signed with the Dallas Cowboys, and his suspension remained in place through week ten of the 2007 regular season since he was not signed until week two.[15] Jones was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2008 off-season, but still has not been fully reinstated by the NFL.

On September 13, 2007, Goodell disciplined the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick after New England attempted to videotape the defensive signals of the New York Jets on September 9. Belichick was fined the league maximum of US$500,000 and the team itself was fined US$250,000 and the loss of their first round 2008 draft pick.[16] Goodell said he considered suspending Belichick, but decided against it because he felt the penalties were "more effective" than a suspension.[17]

[edit] Personal life

Goodell is married to Fox News Channel anchor Jane Skinner[18] and they have twin daughters. He has four brothers; among them are Tim, a member of the worldwide executive committee of international law firm White & Case; and Michael, long-time partner of Jack Kenny, creator of the short-lived NBC series The Book of Daniel. The Goodell family was the inspiration for the Webster family on the show.[19]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Action for Healthy Kids Board of Directors. ActionForHealthyKids.org. Retrieved on 2006-12-17.
  2. ^ Matuszewski, Erik; and Curtis Eichelberger. "NFL Picks Goodell, Once an Intern, as Commissioner", Bloomberg.com, 2006-08-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-08. 
  3. ^ a b Maske, Mark. "Commissioner Vote Was Close", blog.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-06. 
  4. ^ a b Goldberg, Dave. "Roger Goodell chosen to succeed Paul Tagliabue as NFL commissioner", CBC.ca, 2006-08-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-09. 
  5. ^ NFL Charities - 2006/2007 Annual Report. JointheTeam.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  6. ^ "Roger Goodell named NFL Commissioner", Scout.com, 2006-08-09. Retrieved on 2006-08-09. 
  7. ^ King, Peter. "Goodell named new commissioner", Sports Illustrated online, 2006-08-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-08. 
  8. ^ "New commissioner joined NFL in 1982", ESPN.com, 2006-08-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-08. 
  9. ^ O'Connor, Joe. "NFL commissioner eyes Toronto", National Post via Canada.com, 2006-11-30. Retrieved on 2006-12-17. 
  10. ^ a b c "NFL Goodell suspends Pacman for year; Henry for 8 games", ESPN via espn.com, 2007-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-10. 
  11. ^ Weisman, Larry. "Harrison, Wilson hit with drug suspensions", USA Today, 2007-09-04, p. 8C. Retrieved on 2008-05-16. 
  12. ^ Mayer, Larry. "NFL announces Tank Johnson suspension", ChicagoBears.com, 2007-06-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  13. ^ O'Dell, Larry. "Vick Couldn't Scramble Out of This Mess", ABC News, 2007-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  14. ^ "Bears decide to move on, waive Tank Johnson", ESPN.com, 2007-06-27. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  15. ^ Associated Press. "Tank on joining Cowboys: 'It's a great opportunity'", NFL.com, 2007-09-19. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. 
  16. ^ Associated Press. "NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick", NFL.com, 2007-09-13. Retrieved on 2007-09-14. 
  17. ^ "Belichick draws $500,000 fine, but avoids suspension", ESPN.com, 2007-09-14. Retrieved on 2008-05-16. 
  18. ^ Schefter, Adam. "Goodell now comes to the forefront", NFL.com, 2006-08-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-08. 
  19. ^ Sepinwall, Alan. "TV's New Religious Saga", Beliefnet. Retrieved on 2006-12-17. 


v • d • e
NFL Commissioners and presidents

1920-1921: Jim Thorpe • 1921-1939: Joseph Carr • 1939-1941: Carl Storck • 1941-1946: Elmer Layden • 1946-1959: Bert Bell • 1959-1960: Austin Gunsel • 1960-1989: Pete Rozelle • 1989-2006: Paul Tagliabue • 2006-present: Roger Goodell
Preceded by
Paul Tagliabue		 Commissioner of the National Football League
2006-present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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