Despite a string of controversies the NFL commissioner’s ability to generate money for owners helped protect him. But now their patience is wearing thin
How odd would it be if, after a tumultuous decade of debacle and debate in Roger Goodell’s NFL, the one to bring down the commissioner turns out to be Donald Trump?
For the first time in his tenure the Goodell’s job is in danger and the uncertainty has come swiftly. Just weeks ago Goodell was on the verge of a five-year contract extension worth more than $100m. The new deal was believed to be certain, an affirmation that although Goodell has irritated many of the league’s owners and is wildly unpopular with fans, those same owners believed he could keep making them mounds of money. Then in September Trump railed about Colin Kaepernick and the other NFL players kneeling during the national anthem and everything blew up.
Related: Texans players kneel during anthem after team owner calls them 'inmates'
.@JetMckinnon1 in the driver's seat.
TD @Vikings! #SKOL #MINvsCLE pic.twitter.com/i4tl5rd8Bt