The PGA Tour is on the verge of appointing its first-ever CEO, with longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp emerging as the ‘clear favorite’ for the role, as reported by SportsBusiness Journal. According to ESPN, Rolapp has accepted the position.

Brian Rolapp has served as the NFL’s executive vice president, chief media and business officer, overseeing media partnerships and sponsorships during his 22-year tenure. He was often seen as a potential successor to commissioner Roger Goodell, whose contract extends until 2027.

Reports confirm that Goodell has notified NFL team executives of Rolapp’s departure.

In December 2024, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced the initiation of a formal search for its CEO, citing the need for this role with the advent of PGA Tour Enterprises, its for-profit wing, and the recent $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group, comprised of professional sports magnates.

The CEO search committee was headed by PGA Tour Enterprises board member Arthur Blank (owner of the Atlanta Falcons), and included Monahan alongside player directors Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, among others.

The search is primarily focused on candidates from outside the PGA Tour to leverage best practices from numerous sports leagues to bolster its position against the competition posed by the LIV Golf league. The backers of LIV, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, are currently engaged in prolonged negotiations with the PGA Tour regarding investments and alignment of interests.

“We are bringing new perspectives to our team to seize the exciting opportunities in our sport, including the search for a new CEO of the PGA Tour,” Monahan expressed in a recent video issued by the Tour. “We have much to learn from the global sports and entertainment landscape, and I look forward to meeting potential candidates for this pivotal new position.”