Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell
Roger Stokoe Goodellis the Commissioner of the National Football League. Goodell was 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. He officially began his tenure on September 1, 2006, just prior to the beginning of the 2006 NFL season. Commentators have described him as "the most powerful man in sports." Before...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusiness Executive
Date of Birth19 February 1959
CityJamestown, NY
CountryUnited States of America
The draft is one of my favorite events because it is about football. People are focused on how their teams improve. It's a celebration of football. And most importantly, it represents a very important time in the lives of these men who are entering the NFL, and their families.
Too much of our society looks for people to fail.
We're in a leadership position in sports. People look up to the National Football League.
I don't expect to try to get people to like everything I do. I want them to respect what I do.
You have to continue to learn. That's how you develop. So the people who show that curiosity, that ambition, that willingness to do what it takes to improve and to get better, they're the people who are going to be successful in the long term.
No one is above the game or the rules that govern it. Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised.
It gives us an opportunity to go to a market where there is a great deal of interest in American football, ... and we think it will have a special interest and appeal to Hispanic fans in the United States.
When you're talking about a trade you're saying, 'Is it good for this team or that team, did they give up too much?' That kind of debate is great for the game.
There are lots of businesses that are well in excess of $9 billion that have gone into bankruptcy, that have been mismanaged. And that has not served anyone very well.
Traditionally, I don't think we've put the focus on it (the Hispanic market). Our popularity is soaring there (Mexico). There is a great deal of interest in American football.
When you're thrust into litigation, you obviously have to make sure you're prepared to deal with that.
I don't want players coming in from the college level that are either trying to avoid a suspension, declare themselves ineligible on their own, hire an agent and decide, 'I'm going to enter into the NFL.'
We will always make sure player health and safety is our No. 1 priority in the NFL.
The way you continue to be a successful business is you don't wait for the car to go off the cliff. You have to manage yourself. And make sure you do it in the right way so you are not making decisions in crisis.