NFL Commissioner Goodell foregoes salary while league employees take paycuts or furloughs amid COVID-19 impact

WASHINGTON - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has given up his salary while a host of other league employees will be taking pay cuts or furloughs amid the COVID-19 crisis, local media reported on Wednesday.

Goodell typically makes over $30 million a year from salaries and bonuses, but he voluntarily reduced his salary to zero, according to local media.

Goodell on Wednesday also sent to all NFL employees an email regarding pay cuts, furloughs, and other efforts to cut costs due to the pandemic.

According to the email, NFL will implement tiered reductions in base salary starting from May. The reduction will be 5% for up to manager level, 7% for directors, 10% for vice presidents, 12% for senior vice presidents, and 15% for executive vice presidents.

"We hope that business conditions will improve and permit salaries to be returned to their current levels, although we do not know when that will be possible," Goodell said in the email.

The league will also implement a furlough program "for individuals in our workforce who are unable to substantially perform their duties from home and/or whose current workload has been significantly reduced".

Goodell said: "It is important to remember that a furlough is not a termination. We do not know how long a furlough will last, but we are hopeful that we will be able to return furloughed employees back to work within a few months."

The pension plan and Make Up & Auxiliary (SERP) contributions will also be reduced from 15% to 10% of eligible compensation, Goodell added in the email.

"The NFL is not immune to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is our obligation to take responsible steps to protect the business and manage through this crisis as effectively as possible. These decisions were difficult and we know these measures will cause hardship for those impacted. I encourage everyone to continue to identify ways of operating more efficiently and reducing costs. If we do that, I believe that furloughs and compensation reductions can be limited, or in time even reversed," Goodell said.

"I assure you that we will continue to monitor economic conditions, communicate with you promptly and openly - whether the news is good or bad - and have your interests in mind as decisions are made going forward.

"Most important, please stay safe, look after yourself and your family, and continue to share our optimism that we will be able to resume normal operations and have a 2020 season that makes all of us proud," he added.

Over 1 million people in the United States have been infected with COVID-19 while many sports events have been delayed or canceled due to the pandemic. The NFL new season will begin in September.