Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a likely 2016 presidential candidate, says that the National Football League offered him the job of NFL commissioner in 2006.
"I was encouraged to consider it," Bush said while speaking at the Detroit Economic Club Wednesday, the
New York Post is reporting.
"There were owners that asked me about it, and it was nine months prior to ending my tenure as governor," he said.
"And, to be honest with you, that is the greatest job in the world, being governor of a state. I could never have imagined abandoning that job," the Florida Republican told the group.
However, he said that "it took me about 10 minutes after the flattery of a couple of calls from owners to realize that this is not possible — so I finished strong as governor, as strong as I could."
If Bush had taken the job, he would have replaced Paul Tagliabue. The current NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ended up getting the post.
Goodell has faced harsh criticism for how the league has handled domestic violence allegations last year against its players, with several critics saying that the NFL commissioner should resign.
"I saw Roger’s pay package. Wow," Bush said about Goodell's 2013 salary, which reached $44.2 million.
"He’s got a tiger by the tail right now. It’s not as easy as a job as it might have appeared in 2007," he added.
Bush is a leading potential Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election, and is at the
top of a New Hampshire poll among the crowded GOP field.
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