How Roger Goodell Expanded the NFL’s Presence in American Life from Fall Sundays to Every Day

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who, in two decades as Commissioner, has built the NFL into a sports, media and cultural leader—growing the NFL to be not only America’s, but the world’s top sports league, with 13 of the world’s 20 most valuable teams being NFL teams.

Ninety-three (93) of the top 100 rated programs on American television were NFL games. Starting as an intern for Commissioner Pete Rozelle in the early ’80s, Roger became the league’s first Chief Operating Officer, and he succeeded Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as Commissioner in 2006. Roger has focused on strengthening the game for players and fans alike. He prioritized improving player health and safety through new rules and better equipment, driving down concussions and other major injuries. 

Under his leadership, the NFL has secured consecutive, ten-year transformative collective bargaining agreements with the NFL Players Association, allowing the league to grow and thrive, enhancing pay and benefits for current and retired players and ensuring decades of labor peace. In 2021, he negotiated long-term media agreements with CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, NBC and Amazon, which brought Thursday Night Football to a streaming platform for the first time. He has since spearheaded groundbreaking deals with YouTube for NFL Sunday Ticket and Netflix for the NFL’s Christmas games, reaching a generation of younger fans.

Under Roger’s leadership, an increasing number of regular-season games are played outside of the US, and he’s supported the rise of flag football globally. He also moved the NFL Draft from New York to cities and fans across the country.

Read more and listen to the full episode on TheMentorsRadioShow.com or through the podcast player below.

RADIO BROADCAST & STREAMING AUDIO

Listen Live at 1 pm PST each Saturday on the SALEM Radio Network (860 The Answer, San Francisco), and worldwide on iHeartRadio & TuneIn Radio.

This episode and past shows can also be found on your favorite PODCAST platform, like Apple, Spotify, or Tune-In, or at THEMENTORSRADIO.com.

From Pregnant Runaway at 14 to D.C. Police Chief at 39, Cathy Lanier’s Remarkable Story of Resilience

In this episode of The Mentors Radio, Host Dan Hesse talks with Cathy Lanier, whose amazing story continues to inspire. At age 14, Lanier got pregnant, ran away from home, dropped out of high school. But by age 39, this single mother became Washington D.C.’s Chief of Police, earned two master’s degrees, and now serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer for the National Football League (NFL).

In her role with the NFL, Lanier coordinates the efforts of the League offices—that is, all 32 clubs!—and federal, state and local law entities to ensure the security of the NFL’s venues, fans, players, staff and infrastructure. Cathy served as Chief of Police in Washington, D.C. from 2007 to 2016, where she was not only the first female police chief but also the longest serving chief, serving under three mayors. Her innovative strategies were credited with reducing violent crime in Washington, D.C. by 21 percent from 2007 to 2015 while the city’s population grew by 15 percent.

Read more and listen to the full episode on TheMentorsRadioShow.com or through the podcast player below.

RADIO BROADCAST & STREAMING AUDIO

Listen Live at 1 pm PST each Saturday on the SALEM Radio Network (860 The Answer, San Francisco), and worldwide on iHeartRadio & TuneIn Radio.

This episode and past shows can also be found on your favorite PODCAST platform, like Apple, Spotify, or Tune-In, or at THEMENTORSRADIO.com

Five-Time Super Bowl Champion CEO Carmen Policy describes Winning with Class, with Host Dan Hesse

In this episode of THE MENTORS RADIO, Host Dan Hesse talks with Carmen Policy, former President and CEO of the Cleveland Browns. But Policy is best known for his years as President and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers where he played a key role in all five of the 49ers’ Super Bowl winning teams — helping shape an organization that became widely viewed as the hallmark sports franchise of the ’80s and ’90s.

Both The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly named Carmen Policy the NFL Executive of the Year in 1994, the latter award having been determined by a vote of NFL owners and executives. The Sporting News and GQ Magazine have also named him as one of the most influential people in professional sports. An ardent believer in public service, Carmen formerly served for several years on the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

For that answer, listen to the recorded conversation below. You can find show notes and past episodes at the home of The Mentors Radio.

RADIO BROADCAST & STREAMING AUDIO
Listen Live 1 pm PST Saturdays on the SALEM Radio Network (860 The Answer, San Francisco), and worldwide on iHeartRadio & TuneIn Radio.

This episode and past shows can also be found on your favorite PODCAST platform, like Apple, Tune-In or Spotify, or at TheMentorsRadio.com.