National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has pledged to forego his 2020 salary in the face of the continuing coronavirus crisis.
Goddell reportedly requested the measure several weeks ago as the league began to come face-to-face with months of shutdowns in states across the nation, ESPN reported.
“I wanted to make you aware that yesterday afternoon the Compensation Committee reviewed and approved these measures,” Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II wrote in an email obtained by the sports network. “It is important to note that the Commissioner and his staff took the initiative to implement these measures as responsible steps in light of the economic uncertainty facing all businesses. Obviously, these are steps we all would prefer not to have to take, and the League office remains committed to planning for a full season in 2020.”
Rooney added that “the Commissioner requested that he voluntarily reduce his salary to $0, which went into effect earlier this month.”
In addition to Goodell’s request, top executives and managers will be accepting pay reductions, as well. Starting in May, “The reductions will begin at 5% for manager-level staffers and will rise to 7% for directors, 10% for vice presidents, 12% for senior vice presidents, and 15% for executive vice presidents.”
Employees making less than $100,000 annually will not see any reductions. Also, despite the tiers, no employee’s salary will be reduced below $100,000. Furloughed workers will not receive a salary but will not lose health benefits.
“It is important to remember that a furlough is not a termination,” Goodell exclaimed. “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.”
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston.