As NFL boss, Roger Goodell is actually in the saddle until the end of the 2023 season. But team owners are already speculating about a possible successor. A promising candidate is already being traded.

Since September 2006, Roger Goodell has been the NFL’s commissioner and the highest decision maker in the league. His current contract as league boss will run until the end of the 2023 season, but rumours are already circulating in NFL offices about a possible successor to the 61-year-old.

At least that is what “Yahoo Sports” reports. According to the report, some team owners “underhandedly do not shy away from discussing what kind of successor would be needed to lead the league into its next era”.

College official Kevin Warren possible candidate
Already last July “The Athletic” reported that Kevin Warren was a promising candidate for the Goodell succession. The 56-year-old African-American worked in the leadership of the Minnesota Vikings for a long time before he took over as commissioner of the college league Big Ten earlier this year.

Goodell’s contract extension as NFL boss in 2017 was controversial after his handling of Colin Kaepernick’s anthem protest was not well received everywhere. In view of the current protests against racism in the USA, Goodell published a clear video statement against racism and oppression of minorities last week.

We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv

— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020

The NFL Commissioner is elected by the team owners. He needs a two-thirds majority or at least 18 votes of the current 30 NFL teams.