NFL Power 40+

SI's NFL staff recently assembled the most powerful people in the game today. Here is the list broken down by category. Roger Goodell, 51, NFL commissioner His

SI's NFL staff recently assembled the most powerful people in the game today. Here is the list broken down by category.

Roger Goodell, 51, NFL commissioner

His four years in office have been marked by emphasis on player discipline; now faces biggest challenge in looming labor conflict.

Jeffrey Pash, 54, NFL executive VP of labor and general counsel

Tagliabue protégé and onetime commissioner candidate is lead negotiator for owners.

Bob Batterman, 68, lawyer

Management-side labor lawyer who represented NHL in 2004-05 lockout is advising Goodell, Pash.

DON BANKS: 10 future power brokers in NFL

DeMaurice Smith, 46, NFLPA executive director

Former D.C. prosecutor and trial lawyer won election as dark horse in 2009; not nearly as chummy with league office as predecessor, Gene Upshaw.

JeffreyKessler, 56, NFLPA counsel

Veteran labor-side lawyer -- he litigated ­McNeil v. NFL, which led to establishment of free agency -- is Pash's chief adversary.

Kevin Mawae, 39, NFLPA president

Former NFL lineman is strong voice on financial and health-care issues, though influence in negotiations remains to be seen.

Jerry Jones, 68, Cowboys

High-profile face of America's most valuable sports franchise.

Bob Kraft, 69, Patriots

Only owner who's on the broadcast, labor and finance committees.

Jerry Richardson, 74, Panthers

Former Colts receiver cochairs labor committee; hard-liner.

Bob McNair, 73, Texans

Billionaire who made his fortune in energy business; has the ear of fellow owners.

Tom Benson, 83, Saints

Granddaughter Rita has strong say in team issues; Tom chairs NFL finance committee

Clark Hunt, 45, Chiefs

Rising star settling into role as influential dad Lamar's heir

Dan Snyder, 44, Redskins

Lightning-rod owner whose relationship with DeMaurice Smith could help in negotiating CBA.

Dan Rooney, 78, Steelers

Team's emeritus chairman, now U.S. ambassador to Ireland, remains close adviser to Goodell.

Jeffrey Laurie, 59, Eagles

Former Hollywood producer chairs L.A. stadium committee; arbiter of NFL's return to second-largest market.

Steve Bisciotti, 50, Ravens

Among young owners, league office most admires him and K.C.'s Hunt.

Woody Johnson, 63, Jets

Has pushed his franchise to forefront in nation's biggest, rowdiest market.

Ed Roski, 72

Southern California real estate mogul has land, stadium plan for L.A. franchise -- but no team.

Bill Polian, 67, Colts

Colts president is architect of league's steadiest franchise; key member of competition committee.

Bill Belichick, 58, Patriots

Pats coach and three-time Super Bowl winner is admired by all, emulated by some.

Art Rooney II, 58, Steelers

Steelers president carries the gravitas of Art, his grandfather, and Dan, his dad.

Ozzie Newsome, 54, Ravens

Only Indy's Polian has had a better run of team-building than Ravens' general manager.

Peyton Manning, 34, Colts

Colts quarterback is face of the league and its most marketable player.

Brett Favre, 41, Vikings

Vikings quarterback dominates media attention, for better and worse.

Drew Brees, 31, Saints

Saints quarterback helped turn New Orleans into America's New Team.

DON BANKS: 10 future power brokers in NFL

Dr. James Andrews, 68

Preeminent orthopedic surgeon and pioneer in treatment of ligament damage has saved dozens of NFL careers, from Troy Aikman's to Drew Brees'.

Tom Condon, 57, and Ben Dogra, 45

Coheads of Creative Artists Agency's football division have 100 top players, including Peyton and Eli Manning, Adrian Peterson.

John Wooten, 73

Former player chairs Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes hiring of minority coaches and front-office staffers.

Bob LaMonte, 65

Most prominent coaches' agent; client list includes Andy Reid, Brad Childress, Mike Singletary

Drew Rosenhaus, 43

First superstar agent is as controversial as ever, but with client list of 120 (including Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco) and growing, impossible to ignore

George Bodenheimer, 52

ESPN/ABC Sports president pays league $1.1 billion a year for Monday Night Football

Dick Ebersol, 63

NBC Universal Sports & Olympics chairman has Goodell's ear

David Hill, 64

FOX Sports chair has been behind major innovations in NFL broadcasts

Sean McManus, 55

President of CBS News, Sports doesn't wield influence of other network bosses

Steve Bornstein, 58

NFL Network czar and exec VP of NFL media renegotiated deals with CBS, Fox and NBC in 2009, even with lockout looming

Steve Sabol, 68

As president of NFL Films, has had a major hand in league myth-making

Chris Berman, 55

Host of ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown isn't giant of 10 years ago, but everyone takes his calls

Adam Schefter, 43

Onetime Broncos beat writer now leads ESPN's large stable of tapped-in newshounds

Tony Dungy, 55

Retired coach and NBC analyst has become revered resource for Goodell and scores of players

Mike Florio, 45

Onetime outsider has turned profootballtalk.com into a must-read for news and rumor

Peter King, 53

SI senior writer pens Monday Morning Quarterback on SI.com, Internet's most widely read NFL column

Alan Schwarz, 42

New York Times scribe's reporting on brain injury has helped put concussion issue on front burner

Dan Patrick, 54

Interviewer extraordinaire and SI writer cohosts Football Night in America on NBC; league's biggest names frequent his morning radio-television show