From NFL Empire Builder To Golf's New Face: Brian Rolapp To Lead The PGA Tour Into The Future

In a bold and strategic move signaling a new direction for professional golf, the PGA Tour is finalizing the hiring of longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp as its next CEO. According to sources close to the situation, Rolapp—who has spent more than two decades helping shape the National Football League’s media and business empire—has agreed to leave his post to join the PGA Tour’s leadership team.

The decision places Rolapp at the top of golf’s professional ladder, where he will work closely with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan to steer the organization through one of the most complex and controversial chapters in its history.

A Power Move 22 Years in the Making

Rolapp, currently the NFL’s Chief Media and Business Officer, has long been recognized as one of the most influential behind-the-scenes architects in American sports. Since joining the league 22 years ago, he has helped oversee and execute the NFL’s unprecedented growth, transforming it into a $20-billion-per-year juggernaut and the undisputed king of U.S. sports entertainment.

During his tenure, Rolapp has been the mastermind behind massive TV deals, record-breaking sponsorship agreements, and the evolution of NFL Media, including the NFL Network. His current portfolio includes management of media rights, advertising, sponsorships, and digital platforms—all of which generate staggering sums each season.

With a reputation as a forward-thinking strategist, Rolapp was considered a potential successor to current NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. However, this new opportunity suggests he is ready to take on a fresh challenge—and professional golf may be just the platform to test his leadership acumen on a global scale.

Goodell reportedly sent a memo to NFL team executives and presidents on Thursday, informing them of Rolapp’s departure, which speaks volumes about the importance and timing of this transition.

PGA Tour’s Strategic Rebuild: A CEO for the Next Generation

The PGA Tour has been operating without a CEO since late 2023, and the hiring of Rolapp is expected to be officially approved during a policy board meeting scheduled for Monday. He joins at a time when golf’s power structure is undergoing dramatic upheaval, driven by the rise of LIV Golf, mounting pressure from players, and efforts to modernize the sport’s appeal to younger fans.

Until now, Commissioner Jay Monahan has shouldered most of the responsibility for leading the Tour. Monahan took over from longtime commissioner Tim Finchem in January 2017. His tenure has been marked by both innovation and intense criticism—particularly following the Tour’s controversial dealings with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which backs LIV Golf.

Monahan has faced backlash for striking a surprise framework agreement in June 2023 with PIF and the DP World Tour—an announcement that stunned players and fans alike. The secrecy surrounding the deal damaged trust within the sport and opened the door for renewed scrutiny of golf’s leadership.

Bringing in Rolapp signals an effort to restore confidence while also injecting a fresh, business-savvy perspective into the PGA Tour’s top ranks.

Rolapp’s Resume: Built for a Modern Sports Landscape

What makes Rolapp such an intriguing fit for this role isn’t just his business pedigree—it’s his experience navigating change in a fast-evolving media landscape.

Rolapp began his NFL career in media strategy and climbed the ladder by understanding how fans consume content, how digital platforms can expand reach, and how to monetize every piece of the product. He served as the CEO of NFL Network and executive VP of NFL Media before moving into his current executive role in 2017.

He is credited with leading negotiations for some of the NFL’s most lucrative television deals, many of which locked in billions in annual revenue. With the sports media landscape now shifting towards streaming, global expansion, and personalized fan experiences, Rolapp brings exactly the kind of vision the PGA Tour needs to thrive.

In contrast to the more traditional, slow-moving reputation golf has often carried, Rolapp’s style and track record suggest the PGA Tour could be preparing for a dramatic evolution.

Big Stakes: Navigating the PGA Tour’s Complicated Future

Rolapp will enter the golf world at a particularly volatile time. LIV Golf, bankrolled by the PIF, has drawn away some of the game’s most recognizable names—such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, and Jon Rahm—using massive, guaranteed contracts worth more than $100 million each.

The framework agreement intended to unite the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV under one umbrella expired at the end of 2023, and negotiations since then have stalled. Their last major meeting reportedly took place at the White House in February 2025, but no deal has been finalized.

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour has made efforts to bolster its own future through private investment. It recently struck a landmark deal with the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a collection of billionaire sports team owners led by Fenway Sports Group. The investment, worth up to $3 billion, will go into PGA Tour Enterprises—a for-profit offshoot of the Tour.

SSG has already committed $1.5 billion up front, with another $1.5 billion potentially on the table later. This influx of capital has allowed the Tour to issue equity shares to players who remained loyal, an unprecedented move that aims to level the playing field in the face of LIV’s financial muscle.

Rolapp’s background in managing billion-dollar media rights and crafting equitable distribution models makes him a natural fit to help structure this new era of profitability and player empowerment.

The Decision-Makers Behind the Hire

The search for a new CEO has been underway since December 2023, with several high-profile names considered, including NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps and TaylorMade Golf CEO David Abeles. Ultimately, the selection committee—consisting of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, golf legends and player directors Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, and Monahan himself—chose Rolapp.

This committee’s makeup is significant. Tiger Woods, in particular, has emerged as a leading voice among players calling for more transparency, equity, and strategic planning from Tour leadership. Woods’ influence, combined with Rolapp’s corporate experience, may lead to a more balanced relationship between executives and the locker room.

Source: Sources: PGA Tour hiring NFL executive VP Brian Rolapp as CEO

A Turning Point for Golf

Rolapp’s appointment could be the moment that professional golf steps fully into the 21st century. The days of relying solely on television contracts and legacy sponsors are quickly fading. Modern sports fans expect more—more access, more storytelling, more tech integration, and more interaction.

The question now is whether Rolapp can adapt his NFL-honed instincts to the distinct world of professional golf, with its different culture, demographics, and global dynamics.

One thing is clear: the PGA Tour didn’t just hire a CEO—they recruited a visionary with the potential to redefine how golf is consumed, monetized, and governed.

As the PGA Tour faces ongoing challenges from LIV Golf, continues to negotiate with PIF, and looks to rebuild trust with players and fans, the stakes have never been higher.

For Rolapp, the task ahead is daunting—but if his past is any indication, the fairways of golf might soon be lined with new business opportunities, global appeal, and a playbook written by a man who helped make the NFL what it is today.