Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Passes Away at 84

Paul Tagliabue, the former commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) who guided the league through a transformative period, has died at the age of 84. His family announced that he passed away on Sunday morning, with heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease cited as the apparent cause.

Tagliabue became NFL commissioner in 1989, succeeding Pete Rozelle. Under his leadership, the league experienced unprecedented growth, with franchise values increasing tenfold. When Tagliabue retired in 2006, more than two-thirds of the NFL’s 32 teams were either playing in or constructing new stadiums that had not existed when he took office. During his tenure, the league expanded from 28 to 32 teams, adding the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, the current Cleveland Browns in 1999, and the Houston Texans in 2002.

In 2020, Tagliabue was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor. In his induction speech, he emphasized the importance of players in the NFL, stating, “The athletes who thrive in the competitive environment of the National Football League tend to be intensely motivated individuals with clear values and exceptional goals.”

Tagliabue’s leadership was tested during significant events in American history, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Following the September 11 attacks, he made the decision to cancel NFL games that weekend, setting a precedent for other sports leagues. He recounted in his memoir, “Jersey City to America’s Game,” his conviction that the attacks warranted such a response, declaring, “This is not the Kennedy assassination. This is not Pearl Harbor. It’s worse.”

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Tagliabue played a pivotal role in ensuring that the New Orleans Saints returned to their home city after being temporarily relocated to San Antonio during the 2005 season. Upon his retirement, he cited building a strong relationship with the NFL Players Association as one of his greatest achievements, especially in light of the labor disputes that had plagued the league in the 1980s.

Working alongside players’ union executive director Gene Upshaw and following advice from the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, Tagliabue managed to maintain labor peace throughout his 17-year tenure, avoiding any work stoppages. He oversaw historic television contracts and introduced free agency and a salary cap, which he believed helped level the playing field among teams.

A notable regret for Tagliabue was allowing both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders to leave the city after the 1994 season. The Rams relocated to St. Louis, while the Raiders moved to Oakland before eventually settling in Las Vegas in 2020. The Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017.

After his retirement, Tagliabue was called upon by current commissioner Roger Goodell in 2012 to review an appeal involving four players suspended in the controversial Saints’ “Bountygate” case. He overturned the suspensions, stating the case had been “contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints organization.”

Tagliabue also held the position of chairman of the board of directors at Georgetown University from 2009 to 2015. Before ascending to the role of commissioner, he was a respected lawyer and served as the NFL’s representative in Washington, D.C., advocating for the league’s interests.

He is survived by his wife, Chandler, and their children, Drew and Emily.