New commissioner joined NFL in 1982

Updated: August 9, 2006, 2:17 AM ET
ESPN.com

 Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell, named the NFL's commissioner on Tuesday, has a long history with the league. On his resume:

Previous job

• Named NFL executive vice president and chief operating officer by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue in December 2001. Among his duties was serving as president of NFL Ventures, Inc. (which oversees the NFL's business units, including media properties, marketing and sales, consumer products, international, stadium development, special events, and strategic planning). He also ran the league's football operations and officiating departments.

NFL leadership history
Name Title Years
Jim Thorpe President 1920
Joe Carr President 1921-1939
Carl Storck President 1939-1941
Elmer Layden Commissioner 1941-1946
Bert Bell Commissioner 1946-1959
Pete Rozelle Commissioner 1960-1989
Paul Tagliabue Commissioner 1989-present
*NFL treasurer Austin Gunsel served as president in the office of the commissioner after the death of Bert Bell, until the election of Pete Rozelle.

SOURCE: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Also at the NFL

• 1982: Joined league in 1982 as an intern in the NFL's offices in New York.

• 1983: Worked for the New York Jets in public relations and administration offices.

• 1984: Returned to the NFL's offices as a public relations assistant.

• 1987 Appointed assistant to Lamar Hunt, the president of the American Football Conference (AFC), by then-NFL Commissioner Rozelle.

• 1990: Served Tagliabue as director of international development and club administration, vice president of operations, vice president of business development, senior vice president of league and football development, executive vice president of business and football development, and executive vice president of business, properties and club services.

Accomplishments

• Involved in expansion, realignment, stadium development, and international development, according to NFL Media Web site.

• Involved in launch of the NFL Network and negotiations for the NFL's television agreements and Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players' Association.

Personal

• Born in Jamestown, N.Y., on Feb. 19, 1959.

• Graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 1981 with a degree in economics.

• Serves on the boards of the national and New York chapters of Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

• Officer of NFL Charities, the league's charitable foundation.

• Married to Jane; father of twin daughters.

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