NFL Provides Voluntary Buyout Options to Over 200 Staff Members
Despite a successful season and the highly anticipated Super Bowl, the NFL surprises by offering voluntary buyouts to over 200 employees, as confirmed by a league source Find out the reasons behind this unexpected move
The National Football League, despite its strong season for ratings and with the playoffs and Super Bowl on the horizon, is offering voluntary buyouts to at least 200 employees. A league source confirmed that offers were extended on Monday. The Sports Business Journal was the first to report on the buyouts, with a league source confirming the reports. According to the SBJ, the NFL is offering three weeks' salary for every year served, as well as bonuses, to its tenured employees. This offer is being extended to approximately 18% of the 1,100 league staff members, who are separate from the ownership and staff of the 32 teams in the league.
Employees must decide on their offer by the end of February, following Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, according to SBJ. The NFL has stated that it has outlined its strategic priorities and pinpointed areas for significant growth and investment.
"Areas such as international expansion, the growth of flag football, and the continued development of media and digital platforms are crucial in shaping the future of the game. The internal operations, including how we operate, where we invest our capital, and the workforce, must evolve to align with these strategic priorities to position the league for sustained success," the statement noted.
The NFL has seen a consistent increase in viewership, with a Sportico report citing Nielsen ratings showing that the NFL accounted for 93 of the top 100 broadcast programs last year, compared to 82 in 2022 and 72 in 2020. Its revenues have also grown to around $12 billion in 2022, up from $8 billion per year in 2010, according to reports. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed the goal of reaching $25 billion in yearly league revenue by 2027.
Taylor Swift's well-publicized romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may have attracted new viewers to NFL games. During the thrilling Chiefs-Jets matchup in October 2023, attended by Swift and her celebrity friends, the broadcast saw a surge of over 2 million female viewers. This brought the total average viewership to 27 million, making it the most-watched Sunday show since the 2023 Super Bowl, according to NBC. - This report includes contributions from CNN's Oliver Darcy.
