Meta Description: Roger Goodell is the NFL commissioner, age 67 in 2026. Explore his career, wife Jane Skinner, children, salary, net worth and latest NFL contract details.
Roger Goodell is an American sports executive best known as the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL). This Roger Goodell biography explores his age, early life, education, rise through the NFL, wife, children, salary, net worth and the career that has made him one of the most recognizable executives in professional sports.
Goodell has worked with the NFL since 1982 and became commissioner in 2006. His tenure has covered major changes in player safety, league discipline, international expansion, media rights and the NFL’s overall business. In September 2026, the league announced another contract extension that keeps him in the role through the 2030 season. NFL
Quick Facts About Roger Goodell
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Roger Stokoe Goodell |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1959 |
| Age | 67 years old, as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Jamestown, New York, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Sports executive |
| Famous For | Commissioner of the NFL |
| Education | Washington & Jefferson College |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Economics |
| NFL Career Began | 1982 |
| Commissioner Since | 2006 |
| Wife | Jane Skinner |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Father | Charles E. Goodell |
| Current Contract | Through the 2030 NFL season |
Goodell was born in Jamestown, New York, and graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with an economics degree in 1981. He joined the NFL the following year. NFL
Early Life and Family
Roger Stokoe Goodell was born on February 19, 1959, in Jamestown, New York. He is the son of Charles Ellsworth Goodell and Jean Rice Goodell.
His father was a lawyer and public official who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and later represented New York in the U.S. Senate. Roger grew up with several brothers and spent part of his childhood in the New York area.
Sports were an important part of Goodell’s early life. At Bronxville High School, he participated in football, basketball and baseball and captained all three teams during his senior year.
Although he was an accomplished high school athlete, Goodell did not go on to play college football. He has described not playing football in college as one of his biggest regrets. NFL
Education
Goodell attended Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania.
He graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Rather than pursuing a professional playing career, Goodell became determined to find a position within the business side of professional football.
Getting into the NFL was not immediate. Goodell repeatedly contacted the league and its teams looking for an opportunity. NFL accounts have described how he sent dozens of letters before finally getting his chance. NFL
Roger Goodell’s Early NFL Career
Goodell’s NFL career began in 1982 when he joined the league office in New York as an administrative intern under Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
He briefly worked as an intern with the New York Jets in 1983 before returning to the NFL league office in 1984. From there, he steadily moved through a series of positions involving public relations, football operations and league administration.
By 2001, Goodell had become the NFL’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. The role placed him directly below Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and gave him broad responsibility across football operations and the league’s business activities. NFL
His rise from intern to one of the NFL’s senior executives took more than two decades.
Becoming NFL Commissioner
When Paul Tagliabue prepared to retire in 2006, Goodell emerged as one of the candidates to replace him.
NFL team owners elected Goodell commissioner on August 8, 2006. He secured the required support on the fifth ballot and officially succeeded Tagliabue that year. ESPN
Goodell has since become closely associated with the NFL’s business strategy and its handling of major league-wide issues.
His responsibilities include overseeing league operations, working with team owners, addressing player and team conduct matters, participating in labor negotiations and representing the NFL on major business and policy decisions.
Roger Goodell’s Career as NFL Commissioner
Goodell’s tenure has coincided with a period of major commercial expansion for the NFL.
Among the most significant developments have been the growth of international games, expanded digital distribution, changes to the regular-season format and major television and streaming agreements. The NFL’s long-term media agreements with companies including Amazon, CBS, ESPN/ABC, Fox and NBC extend through the 2033 season. NFL
Player health and safety have also remained major issues during his tenure. The league has introduced numerous rule changes aimed at reducing dangerous hits and improving concussion protocols, while the handling of football-related brain injuries has continued to attract scrutiny.
Goodell also oversaw the NFL during the COVID-19-disrupted 2020 season. The league completed the season without cancelling a regular-season game. NFL
International growth has become another important part of the NFL’s strategy, with regular-season games expanding beyond the United States and flag football set to appear at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Roger Goodell’s 2026 NFL Contract Extension
One of the biggest recent developments in Goodell’s career came in September 2026.
The NFL announced that Goodell had agreed to another contract extension covering the 2030 season. His agreement now runs through March 31, 2031. It is his fifth extension since becoming commissioner. NFL
The timing is significant because the NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement with players is also due to expire in 2031.
According to the NFL’s announcement, more than 95% of the compensation under the extension is tied to performance measures and the discretion of the league’s Compensation Committee. NFL
Roger Goodell’s Salary
Roger Goodell’s exact current annual salary is not publicly disclosed.
That makes many figures presented online as his current “salary” difficult to verify. The NFL stopped publicly reporting the commissioner’s compensation in the same way after the league office gave up its tax-exempt status.
However, previous compensation figures have been reported by major news organizations. Goodell reportedly received approximately $63.9 million in each of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 league years, with much of the compensation linked to bonuses and major league business agreements. Reuters
His new contract is heavily performance-based, so it would be misleading to present a fixed figure as his confirmed 2026 salary.
Roger Goodell’s Net Worth
Roger Goodell’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified.
Celebrity wealth publications have estimated his net worth at around $300 million, but this should be treated as a third-party estimate rather than an audited figure. Celebrity Net Worth
What is well established is that Goodell has received substantial compensation during his long tenure as NFL commissioner. His income comes primarily from his executive compensation rather than from playing football or owning an NFL franchise.
Because his present compensation and private assets are not fully disclosed, no exact net-worth figure can be confirmed publicly.
Roger Goodell’s Wife, Jane Skinner
Roger Goodell is married to Jane Skinner, a former television journalist.
Skinner previously worked for Fox News, where she became known as a co-anchor of Happening Now. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University before establishing her career in broadcasting.
Goodell and Skinner married in 1997 after meeting through mutual friends. Skinner left her regular television news career in 2010 and later became involved in producing media projects, including projects focused on women working in the NFL. People.com
Does Roger Goodell Have Children?
Yes. Roger Goodell and Jane Skinner have twin daughters, who were born in 2001.
The couple has generally kept their daughters away from the public spotlight, and relatively little verified information about their private lives is publicly available. People.com
Controversies and Criticism
Goodell’s lengthy tenure has also involved significant controversy.
His authority over player discipline has frequently generated debate, particularly during cases such as Bountygate and Deflategate. His handling of the Ray Rice domestic-violence case in 2014 also drew widespread criticism and was followed by changes to the NFL’s personal conduct policies. ESPN
Questions surrounding concussions and long-term brain injuries have presented another continuing challenge for the league.
At the same time, NFL owners have repeatedly extended Goodell’s contract, most recently through the 2030 season, demonstrating their continued decision to retain him as commissioner. NFL
Conclusion
Roger Goodell’s career is unusual in professional sports because he rose from an entry-level NFL internship to the league’s highest executive position.
More than four decades after joining the NFL in 1982, he remains commissioner at age 67. His tenure has included enormous changes in broadcasting, international expansion, player safety, league discipline and the business of professional football.
With his latest agreement extending through the 2030 NFL season, Goodell is positioned to remain one of the central figures in the league as it approaches another round of major labor and media negotiations. Reuters
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Roger Goodell?
Roger Goodell is 67 years old as of 2026. He was born on February 19, 1959.
Who is Roger Goodell’s wife?
Roger Goodell’s wife is Jane Skinner, a former Fox News journalist. They married in 1997.
Does Roger Goodell have children?
Yes. Roger Goodell and Jane Skinner have twin daughters born in 2001.
What is Roger Goodell’s salary?
His exact current salary is not publicly disclosed. Previous reporting showed compensation of about $63.9 million in each of two league years, while his latest contract is heavily performance-based. Reuters
What is Roger Goodell’s net worth?
His exact wealth is private. Some celebrity-finance publications estimate Roger Goodell’s net worth at approximately $300 million, but that figure is not independently verified. Celebrity Net Worth
When did Roger Goodell become NFL commissioner?
Goodell was elected NFL commissioner in August 2006 and succeeded Paul Tagliabue that year.
How long will Roger Goodell remain NFL commissioner?
His latest contract covers the 2030 NFL season and expires on March 31, 2031, although what happens after that has not been determined. NFL
