Roger Goodell’s bald servility to NFL owners has made him filthy rich

The NFL commissioner has been rewarded with a contract extension after massively growing revenues, even if his wider impact is muted

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy. Photo credit: Simon Marper/PA Wire.

Over the past 63 years Americans have known 13 presidents but just three NFL commissioners. Pete Rozelle was the chain-smoking visionary who consolidated pro football into a made-for-TV sport from the 1960s through to the 80s.

Paul Tagliabue was the fin-de-siecle pragmatist who expanded the game’s reach and fought for diversity and inclusion. Roger Goodell? He’s the fair-haired political hack with the vise-like grip on the office.