Paul Tagliabue, the trailblazing NFL Commissioner who served within the position from 1989-2006, has died.
The NFL introduced Tagliabue's dying on Sunday, November 9. The obvious reason for dying was coronary heart failure sophisticated by Parkinson's illness, in line with ESPN. He was 84.
Tagliabue is understood for facilitating unprecedented development within the league, together with including 4 growth groups throughout his tenure.
He additionally led the league via the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, assaults on the World Commerce Middle in New York Metropolis, in addition to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that devastated New Orleans.
Hollywood has mourned the deaths of a few of its most legendary stars in 2025. The primary half of the 12 months noticed the tragic information of the deaths of David Lynch, Michelle Trachtenberg, George Foreman, Val Kilmer and Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertston. Thank You! You could have efficiently subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a legitimate […]
Tagliabue took over the league in 1989, following Pete Rozelle's tenure.
“Paul was the final word steward of the sport — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL,” present NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned in an announcement on Sunday. “He considered each problem and alternative via the lens of what was finest for the larger good, a precept he inherited from Pete Rozelle and handed on to me.”
He continued: “I'm without end grateful and proud to have Paul as my good friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent collectively the place he helped form me as an government but additionally as a person, husband and father.”
Goodell adopted Tagliabue within the position after his retirement in 2006.
Paul Tagliabue Rob Kim/Getty Photographs for Autism Speaks
Tagliabue was the architect for a lot of the league's immeasurable development. In response to ESPN, when he left his submit greater than two-thirds of the groups within the NFL have been both taking part in in or constructing new stadiums that didn't exist at first of his time period.
He expanded the league from 28 groups to 32, including the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans.
The weekend after the 2001 assaults in New York, Tagliabue efficiently postponed NFL video games and is credited with inspiring different skilled sports activities leagues to do the identical.
Tagliabue can be credited with preserving the Saints in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the group was contemplating a everlasting transfer to San Antonio.
He was additionally a vital half in constructing a relationship between the league and its gamers.
At the beginning of his time as commissioner, he made the trouble to satisfy straight with the gamers to listen to their views and considerations. He additionally began the Participant Advisory Council to facilitate communication between the gamers and the league.
There have been no participant lockouts throughout his 17 seasons as commissioner.
Due to his impactful work with the league, he was enshrined into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2020.
“I'm proud and grateful to have performed a small half in shaping the evolution of the Nationwide Soccer League within the final 4 a long time,” Tagliabue mentioned in his Corridor of Fame speech. “It's going to proceed to evolve as our society evolves. However we have to stay dedicated each to evolution, to vary and to custom.”
He started his profession as a lawyer for the NFL, earlier than finally working his approach to the position of commissioner.
He's survived by his spouse Chandler, son Drew and daughter Emily.
