1. Jerry Jones
Here’s what can happen when a man risks his entire fortune to realize a dream of owning an NFL team: He instantly becomes the most despised man in Texas for firing legendary coach Tom Landry.
But then with the help of a former college roommate (Jimmy Johnson), his fortunes turn, and he finds Super Bowl gushers. He redefines the sports marketing game and transforms a money-sucking stadium into a profit center. Then he builds a new palace.
He generates a boatload of money with the most visible franchise in the NFL – and along the way becomes the ultimate game-changer at the heart of soaring league revenues.
He becomes the Jerry Jones of his wildest dreams.
The owner of the Dallas Cowboys has long maintained rank among the NFL elite – be it players, coaches or commissioner – and is USA TODAY Sports' choice atop the list of the NFL’s 100 Most Important People.
This has very little to do with football results, given the Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl in more than 20 years and, well, multiple general managers would have been fired during that span if not for the fact that Jones serves as his own GM.
Still, the franchise that plays at sparkling AT&T Stadium – Jerry World, it is often called – is worth $3.2 billion, according to Forbes, second to soccer juggernaut Real Madrid ($3.26 billion) among sports franchises worldwide.
A sparkling new team headquarters – dubbed "The Star" – is set to open in August.
Yet Jones’ impact goes far beyond being a look-at-how-I’ve-done-it model.
No owner was more influential in pushing others to sign off on the Los Angeles Rams' stadium deal in Inglewood, Calif. – rather than a Carson deal for the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders that was backed by a lot of “old school” owners. Jones was sold on Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s grand plan for solving the NFL’s conundrum in the nation’s second-largest market.
It was the same type of big-picture thinking Jones employed during the 1990s, when he spearheaded a new philosophy for the broadcast committee in selling the NFL’s network TV package – which is shared by all 32 teams – that bucked the traditional bidding process and resulted in then-fledgling Fox entering the game … and providing the impetus to blow the lid off the previous deal.
And you can bet that Jones will be in the middle of the next big NFL deal. He’s already sent signals that he’ll back a potential move to Las Vegas by the Oakland Raiders.
Jones never rests in seeking ideas to up the ante – which is why he’s so important to the NFL.
— Jarrett Bell
2. Roger Goodell
The self-avowed defender of the NFL shield will reach the 10-year mark as commissioner on Sept. 1.
Though Goodell works at the pleasure of the owners, he’s typically the face of the league’s triumphs and failures no matter the significance of his personal role.
He has overseen what seems to be runaway growth for the country’s most popular sports league with a stated goal of reaching $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027. A continued diet of massive television contracts, a steadily growing international footprint, this year’s return to the lucrative Los Angeles market and key events spread across the calendar that consistently place the NFL at the forefront of the sports news cycle are among the factors which could make his fiscal target a reality.
But Goodell’s reign has been turbulent.
He was hailed early in his tenure for taking a hard line against players who ran afoul of the law, issuing a season-long suspension to Adam “Pacman” Jones while docking Chris Henry and Tank Johnson eight games apiece during his first nine months on the job. However in 2014, Goodell was heavily criticized for the handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident.
Distrust between the league office and NFL Players Association has been a hallmark of Goodell’s tenure. The two sides regularly find themselves in court with the NFLPA seeking avenues to curb the power the current collective bargaining agreement confers to Goodell’s office.
Goodell has navigated prominent scandals with varying degrees of success – among them the Miami Dolphins’ workplace bullying episode, the New Orleans Saints’ Bountygate situation, the infamous lockout of game officials in 2012, Spygate and Deflategate, the latter two leaving Goodell opposed with a flagship franchise, the New England Patriots, and owner Robert Kraft, long one of his foremost allies.
Heading into his second decade, Goodell must keep his golden goose happy while remaining the leading defender of football’s viability amid an onslaught of escalating questions about the sport’s safety.
— Nate Davis
3. Cam Newton
The NFL’s reigning MVP broke the quarterback mold when he entered the league as the No. 1 draft pick in 2011.
Expect him to continue redefining the position well into the future.
At 6-5, 245 (plus) pounds, Newton lines up under center – or often in the shotgun – with an unprecedented combination of size and athleticism. He was the first rookie in league history to pass for 4,000 yards. He is tied with Hall of Famer Steve Young for the most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (43) as well as for the most games with a TD both through the air and on the ground (31). Young played in the NFL for 15 years. Newton is entering his sixth.
While leading the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50 last season, Newton became the first player to pass for 30-plus touchdowns (35) and rush for double-digit TDs (10) in the same year.
But though he’s the rare player who has thrived in the pros with a read-option attack, Newton continues to evolve into an adept pocket quarterback who need only fall back on his immense physical gifts only when a play breaks down.
And while Newton continues to raise the bar with his play, the guy who used to sulk with a towel draped over his head amid a poor performance has also put his signature on the franchise quarterback label. Ever see Peyton Manning or Tom Brady doing The Dab or posing for team selfies before the final whistle? How about mocking or blowing off media questions at the Super Bowl? Hosting an offseason show on Nickelodeon? Maybe wearing Superman cleats while pretending to reveal the “S” on his chest after a score?
Nope, this isn’t the staid NFL of 2010. It’s Newton’s world, one where his gifts and charisma are likely to continue reshaping the most difficult and high-profile job of the sporting landscape.
— Nate Davis
4. Bill Belichick
One of the indelible images of the legendary New England Patriots coach shows him smirking from behind his hoodie, his face partially obscured by the cowl like the evil emperor from Star Wars. Appropriate, perhaps, given many football fans west of Connecticut consider Belichick’s ongoing dynasty an evil empire.
Still, despite the occasional football scandal, Belichick’s influence and success are undeniable.
Despite a relative lack of superstars during his 16 years in New England – Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Rob Gronkowski are rare exceptions – Belichick has built an AFC East champion 13 times, reached the conference championship game 10 times and won four of six Super Bowl appearances in that span. It’s a remarkable outlier of a feat in the post-free agency, parity-driven NFL. No other team has appeared in more than three Super Bowls or won more than two since 2000.
Since Belichick’s team-centric approach took root, “Do Your Job” and “The Patriot Way” have become franchise-defining catchphrases. Perhaps no team better maximizes the abilities of players who might appear marginally talented – Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi, Rob Ninkovich, Mike Vrabel, Wes Welker – than Belichick’s football factory.
As long as Belichick dons that hoodie, it stands to reason his team will remain the NFL’s crown jewel, maintaining a level of success the other 31 teams can only hope to approach.
— Nate Davis
5. DeMaurice Smith
In what is one of the toughest jobs in all of sports, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith has navigated the union through uncertain – and often contentious – periods of labor relations.
His most lasting achievement is the ratification of a 10-year collective bargaining agreement that ended the 132-day lockout of 2011.
The CBA gave the players significant improvements in health and safety. Offseason programs were shortened. The amount of contact allowed during practices was reduced. To ensure those standards are being met, the NFLPA can now perform unannounced inspections of training camps. He also pushed for the inclusion of an anti-lockout insurance policy, which was a first among sports leagues in the country.
But, perhaps the most important victory of all from the 2011 CBA is the provision that gives the players the highest share of television contract revenues in league history.
Smith has also seen his group secure valuable victories in conflicts against the NFL in player suspensions – most notably that of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. Under Smith’s direction, players have cashed in on the booming free-agent market that grows with each season.
Smith first earned his post in 2009 after he beat out three candidates, including current NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent. In 2012, Smith ran unopposed. And in 2015, he topped eight other candidates, unanimously, for his third consecutive three-year term that concludes in the spring of 2018.
Critics of Smith’s point to certain structures in the CBA that appear to cede more power to the league’s owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Those include the franchise tag and, as is currently being contested in the court system, Article 46, which gives Goodell the authority to act as the discipline officer under the language of “conduct detrimental” to the league.
Fans may lament the ongoing arguments in Deflategate, but Smith and the union have a duty to uphold and protect the players’ rights. Taking its case to court is the best method the NFLPA has to ensure that the league doesn’t abuse its power.
— Lorenzo Reyes
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6. Robert Kraft
Patriots owner. As chairman of the NFL’s broadcast committee as well as an active member of the league’s NFL Network, finance, compensation and management council executive committees, Kraft is one of the most powerful owners in the sport. And his team is just as powerful with four Super Bowl titles during his reign. He was a central figure in Deflategate and often at odds with Goodell and the league office over the matter.
7. Dr. Robert Stern
Professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Boston University. A leading researcher in the field of concussions, he has been critical of the league. He will be involved in a $16 million study to try and diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living patients. Currently, CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head, can only be found after death. Funding for the study became controversial when an ESPN report said the NFL did not want money it had donated used. The league denied the report.
8. Stan Kroenke
Los Angeles Rams owner and a member of the NFL’s broadcast committee. Kroenke fought hard to bring the Rams from St. Louis back to L.A. and, in doing so, showed the rest of the league what a force he can be. His new stadium, scheduled to open for the 2019 season, will host the 2021 Super Bowl and is expected to host many other major events.
9. John Elway
General manager of the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. The Broncos have won the AFC West every year since Elway took over in 2011 and reached the Super Bowl twice in that stretch. Elway won the Peyton Manning sweepstakes when the record-setting quarterback became a free agent in 2012, a major coup that catapulted the franchise to sustained success. Elway, in building the roster, has shown he is as adept in the front office as he was on the field.
10. Tom Brady
Patriots quarterback. Since 2001, Brady has led the team to four Super Bowl titles, winning game MVP honors in three of them, and has also been the league MVP twice. He currently faces a four-game suspension for his alleged role in Deflategate. Widely regarded as the best quarterback in the game and perhaps of all time.
11. Sheldon Adelson
Billionaire owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Adelson’s company, along with Majestic Reality, has been pushing to build a stadium in hopes of luring the Oakland Raiders to Vegas.
12. John Mara
President, CEO, and co-owner of the New York Giants. He also serves as chairman of the NFL management council executive committee. Considered one of the classiest owners in the league. His grandfather, Tim Mara, founded the Giants in 1925.
13. Tod Leiweke
Chief operating officer of the NFL. Leiweke left his role as CEO of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015 to join the NFL and has been aggressively restructuring the league’s front office since.
14. Andrew Luck
Indianapolis Colts quarterback. As if the pressure of being a franchise quarterback (and successor to Peyton Manning) coming off an injury-marred season isn’t enough, the eyes of the league are upon Luck now that he's become the highest-paid player in NFL history after agreeing to a record six-year, $140 million megadeal.
15. Dean Blandino
League’s vice president of officiating. A major force in setting and implementing often complex rules, including the complicated and often misunderstood catch rule. Blandino is also the face of the league when a controversial call decides or impacts a game.
16. Lisa Friel
League’s senior vice president for investigations. Friel, who was previously in charge of sex crime prosecutions for the New York County district attorney’s office, took her current job when the NFL created it after being roundly criticized for the way it handled the Ray Rice investigation in 2014.
17. Von Miller
Broncos linebacker. The MVP of Super Bowl 50, he almost singlehandedly shut down league MVP Cam Newton and the Panthers with 2½ sacks and two forced fumbles. Miller received the franchise tag from Denver in March but could soon be the league’s highest-paid defensive player … assuming he gets a new contract and doesn’t follow through on a threat to sit out the 2016 season without one.
18. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Now the new main players in Deflategate. After the court ruled 2-1 to reinstate Tom Brady’s suspension, the quarterback’s lawyers appealed en banc, meaning seven of the court’s 13 judges would have to agree to hear the appeal. If that fails, Brady could turn to the Supreme Court in a final attempt to fight his four-game suspension.
19. Richard Sherman
Seattle Seahawks cornerback. One of the league’s top defensive backs and one of the most outspoken, too – from calling himself the best corner in football, to taunting players such as Brady, to calling Goodell a “suit.” Sherman, a Stanford grad who grew up in Compton, is also opinionated on a variety of social issues.
20. Kathryn Smith
Buffalo Bills quality control and special teams coach. She is the first full-time female assistant coach in league history. Smith was Buffalo coach Rex Ryan’s administrative assistant last season and served several roles before that under Ryan with the New York Jets, including college scouting intern in 2005 and, two years later, a full-time player personnel assistant.
21. Dean Spanos
President and CEO of the San Diego Chargers. Spurned by fellow owners in his attempt to move the team to the Los Angeles area, he is now hoping San Diego voters approve a new stadium initiative in November. Spanos still currently has the option to move the Chargers to L.A. next year.
22. Ron Rivera
Panthers head coach. Two-time coach of the year just signed new contract, which makes him among highest-paid in league, after leading Carolina to Super Bowl 50. A former NFL linebacker, Rivera is highly respected by his players for his direct and even-keeled approach and loyalty – a trait that was evident when he tirelessly defended Newton after his controversial post-Super Bowl press conference.
23. Howard Katz
Senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations for the NFL. Katz is essentially responsible for annually determining the schedules for every team.
24. Las Vegas oddsmakers
They decide which teams are the favorites and underdogs each week. “We don’t get it right 100% of the time,” said Johnny Avello, the executive director the race and sports book at the Wynn Las Vegas. “We want to put the number in a spot where there’s betting on both sides.”
25. Chris Borland
Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker. He retired after a promising 2014 rookie season at age 24, becoming the voice of concussion awareness. Despite good health, Borland feared developing CTE and predicts more players will leave the league early for similar reasons.
26. Tony Romo
Dallas Cowboys quarterback – one of the most high-profile jobs in the NFL. But Romo is also battling the league on another front after it wouldn’t allow players to participate in his fantasy camp at a Las Vegas casino in 2015. The event, scheduled to be held in L.A. in 2016, was again postponed “because of the NFL's continued and calculated actions against the NFFC (National Fantasy Football Convention), including Tony, and against the other NFL player participants,” according to one of Romo’s representatives.
27. Troy Vincent
Executive vice president of football operations for the NFL. Vincent is responsible for quality and innovation within the league and is heavily involved with game operations, college relations, the competition committee and player discipline. He authored the letters sent to the Patriots and Brady detailing the original Deflategate punishment in 2015.
28. Brian Rolapp
Chief operating officer of NFL Media. He negotiates the league’s television deals with networks.
29. J.J. Watt
Houston Texans defensive end. The reigning defensive player of the year has won the award three times in the past four seasons (Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor is the only other three-time winner). Watt, who was also voted the Face of the NFL as well as the league’s top player according to his peers in 2015, is also a dynamic personality off the field and has a huge social media presence.
30. Pete Carroll/John Schneider
Carroll is head coach of the Seahawks and Schneider is the general manager. Since the duo teamed up in 2010, Seattle has become a powerhouse, advancing to the playoffs five times, reaching two Super Bowls and winning a title in 2013. Some teams envy, and even try to copy, the way the two work together in assembling the roster.
31. Rich McKay
Atlanta Falcons president and CEO. He is also chairman of the powerful NFL competition committee that has a major say in setting league rules.
32. Mark Davis
Raiders owner. Also spurned by owners in an attempted return to the Los Angeles market, Davis is now considering a groundbreaking move from Oakland to Las Vegas.
33. Joe Lockhart/Natalie Ravitz
Lockhart is the league’s executive vice president of communications while Ravitz serves as senior VP of communications. Both have political backgrounds and will shape the league’s message.
34. Daniel Snyder
Owner of the Washington Redskins, a franchise he has no interest in re-branding. That issue sometimes make more news than what happens to his team on the field, but Snyder has remained firm that he will not change the nickname even though many consider it racist.
35. Bruce Arians
Arizona Cardinals coach. Speaks his mind. Loved by players. He was the first in league history to hire a female assistant coach (as an intern) and instituted a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence for players in his locker room. More controversially, Arians recently blamed concussions on players not tackling properly, not on the nature of the sport, and has called mothers who won’t let their kids play football “fools.” Arians, a two-time coach of the year, is also renowned as a quarterback whisperer and was instrumental in shaping the careers of Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck.
36. Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers quarterback. The two-time league MVP is the highest-rated passer in NFL history. His off-field profile has risen since he began dating actress Olivia Munn.
37. Jack Dorsey
CEO of Twitter. The social media site will stream 10 Thursday Night Football games live this season – a big step for the league. And Dorsey.
38. Jeffrey Kessler
A prominent sports lawyer with many high-profile clients in the NFL. Kessler has been referred to as the NFL’s “arch-enemy” and often works on behalf of the players union, including CBA negotiations and Deflategate.
39. Art Rooney
Pittsburgh Steelers co-owner and president. His presence on several key committees makes him a force in the league, as does the fact he comes from one of the most respected and longest-tenured families in the NFL.
40. Sarah Thomas
Game official. She became the first female hired on a full-time basis to serve in that role last season. Thomas worked Conference USA games at the college level. She was a line judge last season.
41. Russell Wilson
Seahawks quarterback. Despite questions about whether his style of play and height – Wilson is generously listed at 5-11 – would work at this level, he has won more games (46 in the regular season and seven more in the playoffs) in his first four seasons than any quarterback in history. One of them was a Super Bowl in Wilson’s second year.
42. Bob McNair
Founder and owner of the Texans. He is also chairman of the NFL finance committee. McNair hopes his team will be the first to host a Super Bowl with the big game set to be staged in Houston next February.
43. Jeff Pash
Executive vice president and general counsel for the NFL. Pash, a major player in Deflategate, has a significant role in the handling of any critical legal issues the league faces and is a major player in collective bargaining negotiations.
44. Jared Goff
Rams quarterback. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, he is expected to restore the lowly Rams to greatness amid their Los Angeles return.
45. Odell Beckham Jr.
Giants wide receiver. In the golden age of pass catchers, the man who dominates highlight reels by hauling in so many with one hand stands above the rest.
46. Jeff Miller
The NFL's top executive for health and safety. He – and the league – tried to walk back the comments, but Miller acknowledged to a Congressional committee that there was a connection between football and CTE.
47. Ted Wells
Attorney who specializes in criminal law. The league hired Wells to conduct independent investigations into the Miami Dolphins’ locker room bullying scandal in 2013 and “Deflategate” in 2015.
48. Sashi Brown
Executive vice president of football operations for the Cleveland Browns. It’s his turn to see if he’s the one who can turn this once-proud franchise around. Brown’s reliance on analytics will make it that much more interesting to watch.
49. Terry and Kim Pegula
Buffalo Bills owners. The husband-and-wife team is committed to western New York, but their looming stadium issue is tricky and worth watching.
50. Rob Gronkowski
Patriots tight end. Gronkowski has already set several receiving records for his position and is quickly putting together a Hall-of-Fame resume. But his zany and fun-loving personality have also made him a ubiquitous presence on social media and TV (he’s now got a show on Nickelodeon). He hosted a fantasy cruise in the Bahamas earlier this year, and he’s even the newest cover boy for Madden NFL.
51. Chip Kelly
San Francisco 49ers head coach. He went 10-6 each of his first two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles but bombed (and was fired) in 2015 after assuming control of personnel decisions. Kelly is back to mere coaching with the 49ers, but many of his creative offensive concepts have been emulated throughout the league. Still, if he’s not successful with the Niners, will that deter owners from reaching into the college ranks for a coach?
52. Mark Lazarus
Chairman of NBC Sports. Not only does his network have the prime-time game every Sunday, typically the marquee NFL matchup of the week, it now will broadcast five Thursday night games.
53. Daily fantasy sports chiefs
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and Nigel Eccles of FanDuel. Their industry remains under fire in many states, which claim it is illegal sports gambling, but you couldn’t watch a game last season without seeing one of their commercials. Or 100 of them.
54. Martha Ford
Majority owner and chairwoman of the Detroit Lions. Ford, 90, has made no mistake who is in charge in Detroit since assuming control of the long struggling franchise in 2014.
55. Eric Winston
President of the NFLPA and Cincinnati Bengals tackle. Winston has been very critical of the league when it comes to concussion research and reports, saying: “They cannot be trusted to do the right thing when it involves players.”
56. Ozzie Newsome
Baltimore Ravens general manager and executive vice president. The Hall-of-Fame tight end has been in the Ravens front office since they came to Baltimore in 1996 and became the NFL’s first African-American GM in 2002. Newsome is considered one of the league’s best talent evaluators and has built two Super Bowl champions in Baltimore.
57. Jon Gruden
ESPN Monday Night Football analyst. He makes the list not for his TV work, but because Gruden’s QB Camp has become a “must stop” for top NFL quarterback prospects prior to the last seven drafts.
58. John Wooten
Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance. He works with the NFL to promote minority hiring for coaching, scouting and front office positions.
59. DeAndre Levy
Lions linebacker. Levy makes the list not for his Pro Bowl play but because he wrote an article in The Players’ Tribune titled “Man Up,” discussing the shocking lack of awareness there is for sexual assault in sports.
60. Manning Family
From recently retired Peyton, who went out with a second Super Bowl ring, to his brother Eli, who has the same number of championships with the Giants, to their dad Archie, who was a damn good QB on a lot of bad teams, they certainly can lay claim to being the First Family of Football. It remains to be seen if that title gets tarnished given the NFL’s ongoing investigation into Peyton’s alleged link to human growth hormone.
61. Eric Grubman
NFL executive vice president and president of the league’s business ventures since 2006. He oversaw and advocated for the Rams’ relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles.
62. Arthur Blank
Falcons owner. After this season, his team will move into groundbreaking Mercedes Benz Stadium, which was selected to host the 2019 Super Bowl. Blank’s foundation has been lauded by many for trying to improve the quality of life for people living in the Atlanta area.
63. Marvin Lewis
Bengals head coach. Hired in 2003, he is currently the longest-tenured minority coach, and only Bill Belichick has served longer with a franchise among current coaches. Lewis has achieved sustained success (five consecutive playoff appearances) with a franchise where few thought that was possible.
64. Thom Mayer
NFLPA medical director. He has been at the forefront for the union and is a driving force in developing the players’ positions on health and safety matters, which include pushing the league on the concussion issue. Mayer is also the point person for the union for investigations where breach of concussion protocol is suspected.
65. Brock Osweiler
Texans quarterback. The big free-agent signing in 2016, Houston lured him away from the Broncos with a four-year, $72 million contract even though Osweiler only has seven career starts – quite a statement on the value of QBs in the modern NFL.
66. Katie Blackburn
Bengals executive vice president. The daughter of Cincinnati owner Mike Brown, Blackburn was the first woman to be a chief contract negotiator in the NFL and has assumed more day-to-day control of the franchise. The MMQB called her “The NFL’s Most Powerful Woman Nobody Talks About.”
67. Brandon Marshall
Jets wide receiver. Besides his on-field talents – Marshall is the only player with 1,000-yard receiving seasons for four teams – he is recognized as an advocate for borderline personality disorder patients after his own diagnosis. Marshall sought professional help after several domestic violence accusations.
68. CAA Football
Led by the powerful agent trio of Tom Condon, Jimmy Sexton and Todd France, Creative Artists Agency's football wing represents stars like J.J. Watt, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Luke Kuechly, Dez Bryant, Julio Jones and Ndamukong Suh, plus budding stars who just got paid (Fletcher Cox) or soon will (Tyrann Mathieu). Sexton also reps coaches, including Rex Ryan and Adam Gase.
69. Sean McManus
CBS Sports chairman. The network, which typically airs AFC games, took a bold step by jumping into the Thursday Night Football package in 2014, and it is paying off for them.
70. Mark Waller
NFL’s executive vice president for international affairs. He’s become a strong proponent of the league’s expansion outside the U.S. and said in a recent interview he envisions the establishment of more than one team in a foreign city. In 2016, the NFL will host three games in England and one in Mexico City.
71. Eric Shanks
President, chief operating officer and executive producer for FOX Sports. The network, which airs the NFC package, has been the most innovative since arriving on the scene in 1994.
72. Amy Adams Strunk
Controlling owner of the Tennessee Titans. Daughter of late owner Bud Adams, Strunk and her family members have been attempting to comply with NFL rules involving ownership structure so they can maintain control of the franchise, which Bud Adams founded in 1960.
73. Bob LaMonte
Need a coach or general manager? Call LaMonte. His Professional Sports Representation, Inc., represents seven NFL head coaches, five GMs and dozens more coaches and executives in pro and college football. Last year’s class included the Giants’ Ben McAdoo and Eagles’ Doug Pederson.
74. Tony Dungy
NBC analyst. The Hall-of-Fame coach’s importance goes far beyond his TV duties. Many coaches and players still reach out to him for advice.
75. John Skipper
President of ESPN. His network has the Monday night package and offers countless hours of NFL programming throughout the year.
76. James Andrews
Prominent American orthopedic surgeon. One of the biggest, if not the biggest, names in sports medicine. Andrews has worked on NFL players such as Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning and is often sought for a second opinion.
77. John Madden
Hall-of-Fame coach of the Raiders and longtime TV analyst. Even in retirement, he continues to serve as an advisor with the NFL and, of course, his name headlines the popular EA Sports Madden NFL video game that he’s been endorsing since 1988.
78. Shad Khan
Jacksonville Jaguars owner. He has overseen many improvements to EverBank Field, including, yes, the pool. But Khan is also building a team that will soon be the main attraction.
79. George Whitfield
Known as the “quarterback guru,” he typically works with passing prospects prior to the draft. Whitfield's clientele has included players like Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, and Jameis Winston.
80. Adrian Peterson
Minnesota Vikings running back. He led the league in rushing (for the third time) in 2015 at 30, the age when most backs are retired or in steep decline. In the age of “pass first,” the 2012 MVP proves a running back can still be the biggest weapon on a playoff team’s offense.
81. Joel Segal
Recently promoted to president of team sports at Lagardere Sports, he represents 54 active players, including five first-round picks in the 2016 draft. His client list includes Patrick Peterson, DeSean Jackson, Justin Houston and Khalil Mack.
82. Drew Rosenhaus
One of the most recognizable faces in the agent industry, he also remains one of the most prolific. Rosenhaus represents 106 current players, including Rob Gronkowski, LeSean McCoy, Greg Olsen and T.Y. Hilton.
83. Scott Hallenbeck
Executive director of USA Football, which oversees the sport on the youth and amateur levels. He plays a vital role for the NFL due to the fact that USA Football is the official youth development partner of all 32 of the league’s teams.
84. Tyrann Mathieu
Cardinals defensive back. He exemplifies the new emphasis on versatile defenders who can play safety, corner and even linebacker. Viewed as a risky third-round pick in 2013 after drug use prematurely ended his LSU career, Arizona is now grooming Mathieu as the future face of the franchise with a new contract around the corner. His maturation has also included his outspoken stance on social issues, like the rampant crime in his hometown of New Orleans.
85. Matthew Berry
Senior fantasy sports analyst for ESPN. The network gives him the perfect platform for talking to fantasy fans.
86. Mike Pereira
FOX Sports analyst. The former vice president of NFL officiating, he is now one of the most trusted voices when it comes to rules interpretations.
87. Cris Collinsworth
NBC Sunday Night Football analyst. Former Bengals receiver has a national broadcast audience every week. He also owns the football analytics website Pro Football Focus.
88. Mike Mayock, Todd McShay, Mel Kiper
NFL draft gurus. Mayock (NFL Network), McShay (ESPN) and Kiper (ESPN) dominate football talk for about three months of the year leading to the annual draft.
89. Charlotte Jones Anderson
Executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Cowboys, one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world. She is also the chairwoman of the NFL Foundation, the league's charity arm that is knee-deep in pushing youth football and safety agendas.
90. Eugene Monroe
Offensive tackle. Recently released by the Ravens and now a free agent, Monroe has been outspoken on his view that the league should allow players to use medical marijuana instead of the addictive opioids teams often use to treat injuries.
91. Charlie Sly
Formerly an intern at Indianapolis’ Guyer Institute, Sly was caught by an Al Jazeera America hidden camera linking five NFL players – Peyton Manning, James Harrison, Dustin Keller, Julius Peppers and Mike Neal – to HGH. The league says its investigation is ongoing.
92. Doug Hendrickson and Roosevelt Barnes
The death of legendary agent Eugene Parker and pending suspension of Ben Dogra left the football arm of Relativity Sports – recently rebranded Independent Sports and Entertainment – in the hands of this duo. Their client list includes Adrian Peterson, Jason Pierre-Paul and Aldon Smith.
93. Greg Hardy
Free agent defensive end. Has the league had enough, or will the first key injury bring the polarizing pass rusher back into the game?
94. David Baker
Pro Football Hall of Fame executive director. He is in charge of the game’s history.
95. Jim Irsay
Colts owner. He moved Andrew Luck atop the NFL pay scale but just might have struck a bargain by paying him $23.3 million through 2021, lower than many estimated Irsay would have to shell out.
96. Dave Gettleman
Panthers general manager. Since Gettleman took over in 2013, the Panthers have won three consecutive NFC South titles. And he’s quickly shown he has no fear of making a difficult decision with an eye to the future. In April, Gettleman rescinded the franchise tag from all-pro corner Josh Norman rather than overpay him and deviate from his philosophy of investing heavily in the trenches.
97. Michael Sam
The first openly gay player to be drafted – he didn’t make the Rams’ final roster after being selected in 2014 – he continues to imply that his sexuality is keeping him out of the NFL. Those comments could prevent other players from coming out.
98. Doug Mack
CEO of Fanatics, the licensed sports merchandising company that operates the e-commerce business for the NFL.
99. Dave Dunn and Brian Murphy
The founders and brain trust of Athletes First, the agency that represents Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer, Clay Matthews, Jamaal Charles and Earl Thomas, among others. Dunn has increasingly been involved with coaches, too, representing the likes of Chip Kelly and Jason Garrett.
100. Les Snead
Rams general manager. New quarterback. New city. Enough said for what will determine his future with the team now operating in the high-pressure Hollywood market.
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The list was compiled by: Nancy Armour, Jarrett Bell, Chris D’Amico, Nate Davis, Lindsay H. jones, Tom Pelissero, Eric Prisbell and Lorenzo Reyes
The capsules were written by: Griffin Adams, Lila Bromberg and Callie Caplan.
