Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the N.F.L., was paid $35 million in 2013, a year in which the league signed major television and sponsorship deals and settled a landmark concussion lawsuit, and in which two teams began work on new stadiums.

Goodell’s compensation, released Friday as part of the league’s annual tax filing with the Internal Revenue Service, was about 20 percent lower than in 2012, when it was $44.2 million. But that figure included a one-time deferred payment of $9.1 million.

The commissioner’s compensation in 2013 made him one of the highest-paid chief executives in the United States. He received a $3.5 million base salary, a $31.1 million bonus determined by a small group of N.F.L. owners, and the rest in retirement benefits.

“The commissioner’s total compensation in 2013 is a fair reflection of his leadership and contributions during the year,” Arthur Blank, the chairman of the compensation committee and the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, said in a statement.