The recommendation for the next NFL commissioner, only the third since 1960, will be made by an eight owner committee evenly split between high- and low-revenue clubs.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced last month that he would step down later this year.
The committee is co-chaired by Dan Rooney, an advocate for lower-revenue clubs, and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, whose team is a top-10 revenue-generating franchise.
Revenue disparity continues to be an issue in the NFL, even after a new labor deal committed new revenue-sharing monies. Both sides of that debate wanted to have their say in choosing the next NFL boss.
Perhaps as important as the revenue representation on the committee is the mix of new and old owners. New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Richardson and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones entered the league after Tagliabue became commissioner in 1989. Whereas the other four committee members — Rooney, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt and Chicago Bears owner Mike McCaskey — have been in the league far longer.
In ’89 the owner committee was made up entirely of old-line owners. Their choice to succeed Pete Rozelle was blocked by newer owners.
The new committee is expected to hire an executive recruitment firm soon. The full ownership will review the progress at the next scheduled meeting on May 23 in Denver, though a special owners gathering could be called for early that month.
