“Several NFL owners” have approached NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to try to interest him in taking over the NFL, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Thursday.
But Silver is apparently not biting.
“I’ll just say I have not given it any thought,” Silver told ESPN. “I feel very fortunate to be in this position. As a longtime fan, as a longtime league employee, the opportunity to become the commissioner of this league was beyond anything I even ever dreamed of as a kid.”
Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner unpopular with many fans, has the support of at least some NFL team owners. Though there was a messy public battle in 2017 over his contract negotiations, Goodell ultimately signed an extension through March 2024.
Silver has been commissioner of the NBA for five years and also had his contract extended through the 2023-24 season.
Some executives have worked in more than one major sports league, such as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who previously served as a senior vice president in the NBA.
But Silver moving to the NFL would be unprecedented. No one has ever served as commissioner or head executive of two major sports leagues in the history of North American pro sports.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.