3 reasons Roger Goodell is NFL evil genius that deserves our respect

Is there anything more cringe-worthy in sports than when Roger Goodell hugs it out with first-round picks during the NFL draft?

Well, Goodell is having the last laugh and many more as he proves that despite all of his awkward moments in front of the camera (not to mention real life-and-death issues like CTE), he's not only a great league commissioner, but in fact the NFL's evil genius that has his sights set on being one of the richest companies in the world.

Matthew Golden, Roger Goodell — Wide receiver Matthew Golden embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the Packers select him with the 23rd pick during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here's why the 66-year-old Commissioner of the NFL, who is about to celebrate his 19th year on the job, deserves our utmost respect.

Diversifying the NFL's portfolio and getting out of the red

Creating on-air content is expensive. Very expensive.

It's no secret that the NFL was antsy to get out of the content and media business given it was probably losing money on the venture. And as we know, the NFL likes to only make money.

Luckily they had a willing partner that is desperate to gain valuable media assets, and Goodell found an eager partner with ESPN, with the league now owning 10% of the Disney-owned sports network.

The NFL RedZone channel was the crown jewel of the estimated $2.5-$3 billion deal for ESPN, who will use it as a centerpiece of their new $29.99 per month, direct-to-consumer platform. Goodell revealed today that ESPN can use the "RedZone" name for things like college football too, although the NFL still owns it's most valuable real estate in game rights, and notably NFL Films too.

Roger Goodell says ESPN has purchased the rights to the RedZone name — allowing them to use the format for other sports, including a potential RedZone-style broadcast for College Football. 👀

"They have the ability to do that."pic.twitter.com/E8PSIvveB4
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 6, 2025

Lost in the splashy ESPN headlines is that Goodell has also crafted ownership equity in the new CBS-owned Skydance Media, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The NFL laughs at the NBA, MLB, and any other league

Watch out Tim Cook. Roger is coming for you. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

As first reported by Pro Football Talk, the NFL sees its competition as Apple, Meta, Google, and probably now AI companies like chip maker Nvidia, now the most valuable company in the world.

“We [the NFL] are not competing with the NBA," Goodell said. "Our competitors are Apple and Google.”

In an upcoming book from Ken Belson, Roger Goodell is quoted as saying the NFL's current competition isn't the NBA or the MLB, but Apple and Google. https://t.co/5bOlnlp6gI
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 5, 2025

This kind of transformative thinking can't happen without Goodell, who has taken the legacy built by his late father Charles Ellsworth Goodell Jr., the former U.S. senator and congressman from New York, and turned it into a kingdom that far surpasses his dad's.

Billionaire commish?

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell begins the bike parade that was part of the 2025 NFL Draft. | Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Goodell is estimated to be worth between $250-$300 million, but according to Bloomberg, he has made over $700 million during his tenure as NFL Commissioner.

Roger Goodell has earned over $700 million as NFL Commissioner, making him one of the highest-paid execs in sports history.

(🎥: @BloombergTV) pic.twitter.com/X6xZDZVnAR
— Boardroom (@boardroom) February 2, 2025

Goodell reportedly made $64 million in 2024, but with his contract expiring in March 2027, the once laughed-at commish deserves a big raise.

And we didn't even mention he constantly has to keep 32 multi-billionaire owners appeased. That in and of itself is a miracle.

So after 19 years, Goodell must be doing something right. And for that, he begrudgingly deserves our utmost respect.