National Football League

Goodell took pay cut last year, still made more than any player

Published Feb. 13, 2015 4:32 p.m. ET

Sid Saraf

It's that time of year again, when the NFL has to cough up its annual tax filing with the IRS. With that comes the news that provokes eye-rolls from San Diego to Bangor: Roger Goodell's annual salary.

For all the haters out there, take heart! The NFL commissioner actually took a pay cut from April 1, 2013 to April 1, 2014. He only made $35 million, according to the New York Times. That's 20 percent less than than the whopping $44.2 million he made the previous year.

So, what gives?

Goodell's salary is $3.2 million and the rest of his compensation comes via bonuses from all 32 NFL owners. During the past year, the league signed a broadcasting deal with CBS for Thursday Night Football valued at $275 million, plus landed another contract with DirecTV for the exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket for another cool $1.5 billion.

However, one can't argue with the overall numbers. The NFL is making money hand over fist. So, Goodell's wallet figures to continue to grow.