New NFL Rumors on Roger Goodell's New Contract Ahead of Expiration Date

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's current contract expires in March 2027, but he is reportedly expected to get an extension to keep him aboard and lead the league's negotiating efforts on new labor and media deals.

Mark Maske of Front Office Sports reported the news on Monday, citing "four people familiar with the owners' views."

The NFL's current CBA with the NFLPA expires after the 2030 league year (so March 2031). The league's media rights deal with its broadcasting partners expires after the 2033 season.

However, the league can opt out of the media right deal with every partner after the 2029 season aside from Disney (which owns a controlling stake in ESPN), per CNBC's Alex Sherman. The NFL can opt out of its Disney partnership after the 2030 campaign.

In theory, a hypothetical four-year extension for Goodell would keep him around until March 2031, a time period that covers the lifetime of the current CBA plus the remainder of the media contracts should the NFL exercise its opt-outs.

Goodell, 67, has been the NFL's commissioner since 2006. At this juncture, it seems like a formality he'll be leading the way into the 2030s. The question is when the new contract will happen.

Maske posited that October, when the league holds a quarterly owners meeting in New York, "could be a reasonable target." Of note, Goodell's last contract extension occurred in October (of 2023), and that one was for three years.