NFL commissioner Roger Goodell earned $35,017,000 in the 2013 calendar year, according to the NFL's tax return, which was given to ESPN in advance of the league's Tuesday deadline to file it to the IRS.
Goodell made $44.2 million in 2012, but it included $9 million in deferred pay.
"The Commissioner's total compensation in 2013 is a fair reflection of his leadership and contributions during the year," said Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who is chairman of the compensation committee, in a statement. "Compensation packages for Roger and other senior executives are reviewed annually; accordingly, the compensation committee will conduct a thoughtful review and make a determination of 2014 compensation in March."
Goodell has made more than $20 million a year in each of the last three reported years and earned an average of $18.8 million a year during his first eight years as commissioner. He earned $4.5 million in 2006, $5.9 million in 2007, $9.8 million in 2008, $9.9 million in 2009, $11.6 million in 2010, $29.5 million in 2011, $44.2 million in 2012 and just over $35 million in 2013.
Jeff Pash, the league's executive vice president and general counsel, made $7.5 million in 2013, while Steve Bornstein, the executive vice president of media, made $5.1 million. Eric Grubman, the league's executive vice president of business ventures, made $3.8 million.
Since the league office is considered a nonprofit organization, it is required to publicly file its returns.