One of the NFL’s top executives is leaving to take over as CEO of the PGA Tour.
Brian Rolapp, the league’s chief media and business officer, is taking on the role at the PGA after being widely believed to be the clear favorite for the job days earlier, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo Thursday to all team executives and presidents alerting them of the news.
“After 22 remarkable seasons of dedicated leadership and significant contributions, Brian Rolapp will be leaving the NFL to pursue other opportunities,” Goodell wrote. “We have spent some time planning for this change and are confident we will successfully manage the responsibilities while we align our structure to meet our long-term strategic goals. We will share more details soon.”
Rolapp spent 22 years at the NFL and was considered by some as a potential successor to Goodell.
But the hire shouldn’t come as too big of a shock, considering that Rolapp had been on the PGA Tour’s radar since 2024, and a memo from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in December indicated that the hire would come from outside the organization, Sports Business Journal reported.
The outlet reported earlier this week that the search for a CEO was nearing its end and that Rolapp appeared to be the favorite.
NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps, TaylorMade Golf CEO David Abeles and former Ticketmaster chairman Jared Smith were also believed to be options for the position.
The CEO will report directly to the PGA Tour Policy Board and PGA Tour Enterprises — the for-profit arm of the Tour — would also fall under the new CEO’s jurisdiction.
The position is separate from the commissioner, which will remain helmed by Monahan.
Rolapp has served as the chief media and business officer since 2017 and helped the NFL through its current media rights deal, which is worth $111 billion over 11 years.
“Brian began his journey with the NFL in 2003 as Director of Finance and Strategy at NFL Network. Since then, he built a distinguished career, culminating in his role as Executive Vice President, Chief Media & Business Officer,” Goodell wrote about Rolapp. “Brian played an integral role in shaping the NFL’s media strategy and business operations at a time of unprecedented change in the media environment.
“His accomplishments include negotiating several key media partnerships, overseeing NFL Media, NFL Films, 32 Equity, the Sponsorship and Consumer Products businesses and leading major initiatives that expanded the league’s global media footprint and digital presence.”
