NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stands on the sidelines before the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, La. Feb. 3, 2013. (REUTERS/Sean Gardner)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made nearly $30 million in 2011, according to a Sports Business Daily report.
His earnings nearly tripled from 2010 largely due to a $22.3 million bonus paid in 2011 as part of his compensation structure tied to job performance. The generous bonus apparently was the result of his negotiating work on a new 10-year labor deal and television contracts.
The 2011 figure, taken from the league’s tax return that was to be filed Friday, likely makes Goodell the highest-paid commissioner in professional sports. It’s believed that the NBA’s David Stern and Major League Baseball’s Bud Selig are paid in the mid-$20 million range.
“The NFL is the most successful and best-managed sports league in the world,” said Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons owner and compensation committee chair. “This is in no small part due to Roger’s leadership and the value he brings to the table in every facet of the sport and business of the league.”
