Back in the early ’80s, a young Roger Goodell was just another college grad with a dream and a typewriter. He fired off over 50 letters to NFL teams, begging for a shot. Eventually, the league office gave him a chance as an intern. Fast forward to today, and that persistent intern is now the NFL Commissioner, overseeing a league that’s expanded globally and boasts franchises valued in the billions.

After taking the reins as an NFL Commissioner, Goodell transformed the NFL into a global powerhouse. From expanding the regular season games to securing billion-dollar TV deals, the man’s had a hand in almost every big move the league’s made. He even pushed for games in places like London and Germany, turning Sundays into a global affair. But behind the scenes, you’ll find that there’s someone who’s been a steady presence throughout his ascent.

Who is Roger Goodell’s wife?

Goodell’s relationship with his wife, Jane Skinner, started with a casual football talk. The pair met for the first time through mutual friends. But the initial days of their relationship were marked by some highs and lows, considering the pair was living in two different states. While Goodell was already working for the NFL in New York, Jane was out there achieving her “dream job” in Chicago.

Jane was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Northwestern University to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in broadcast journalism. At the earliest in her career, she worked as a reporter for television stations in Minnesota, Maine, and Missouri. But her big break came when she joined Fox News as a correspondent and weekend anchor, where she co-hosted Happening Now with Jon Scott.

However, the 58-year-old former daytime news anchor announced her retirement from broadcast journalism in 2010, and later transitioned her career from on-screen to behind the camera.

She produced several NFL shows, mainly focused on female professionals working for the league, producing three projects between 2019 and 2022. The first NFL show that she co-produced was NFL Network’s A Lifetime of Sundays—a documentary that centered around four female trailblazers in the league: owners Norma Hunt, Virginia McCaskey, Martha Firestone Ford, and Patricia Rooney.

While having a chat with Fox News, Jane described the four women as “good students of the game,” of football. “You know very much at the end of the film, what’s important to them.” Besides, she also co-produced the Netflix documentary Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. Throughout her journey in a successful career, Roger Goodell remained a constant supporter of his wife.

How did Roger Goodell and Jane Skinner meet?

Roger and Jane met for the first time during a mutual friend’s wedding. While talking with the LA Times, Jane noted that Goodell is about eight years older than her, as she joked, “I guess his friends would say he was kind of like a confirmed bachelor.” Though when they first met, Jane described her first impression of Goodell, stating, “he was super nice.” However, she told her mother that she was “not really interested,” considering Skinner was “on a career path” at that time.

“I’m two years away from my dream job in Chicago,” she recalled of her mindset about her relationship with Goodell while speaking to LA Times. To make it more obvious, Jane was living in Milwaukee, and Goodell was already working for the NFL in New York. The silver lining? Eventually, Jane moved to New York, and the couple tied the knot in 1997. A few years later, Goodell was appointed as the NFL Commissioner in 2006.

Throughout Goodell’s NFL career, Jane has been a supportive wife, often accompanying him to major events while keeping a low public profile. She once confessed that the NFL draft is her husband’s “favorite event by far.” Why? Because, as per his wife, the NFL Commissioner believes “that’s when you see these young men’s dreams come true and their lives really change for their families.” 

And now, the couple has been happily married for over 25 years. Roger and Jane currently live in Bronxville, New York, balancing public responsibilities with personal life. The couple also shares twin daughters, born in 2001, and they kept their girls out of the spotlight despite being in the public eye.

What Is Jane Skinner Goodell’s Family Background?

Jane Skinner, born on February 12, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois, and is a Caucasian American, is the daughter of Samuel K. Skinner, former U.S. secretary of transportation and White House chief of staff under President George H. W. Bush. No wonder she learned the importance of leadership and professionalism in her early life. While speaking to the LA Times, Jane confessed that her family was “all about politics and sports.”

Before working as the U.S. secretary of transportation and White House chief of staff, Jane’s dad was the Chicago Bears‘ season ticket holder. “We spent a lot of time at Soldier Field,” she recalled her time with Sam and her two older brothers. “There were not a lot of little girls at Soldier Field, but it was very much a part of my family and our world,” she continued.

All in all, it’s safe to say that a conversation that started with football during a mutual friend’s wedding has now transformed into a happily married life.