Former National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has passed away at the age of 84. He served in the NFL’s top position for 17 seasons, presiding over some of the league’s biggest changes. His death was attributed to heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease. Here is a look back at his career.
Tagliabue’s NFL Journey
Despite his eventual trajectory, Tagliabue started as a standout basketball player and team captain at Georgetown University. After Georgetown, the New Jersey native would get his law degree from New York University School of Law. He practiced law in Washington, D.C for 20 years, including becoming a lawyer and lobbyist for the NFL.
In 1989, Tagliabue was selected by the league’s owners as the successor to Pete Rozelle. As NFL Commissioner, he oversaw one of the biggest growth periods in NFL history. Four teams joined the league, and many of the league’s franchises increased as much as tenfold in value.
Tagliabue’s calling card as commissioner was his relationship with the players. After two strikes before his tenure, he made it a point of emphasis to establish a rapport with Gene Upshaw and the NFL Players Association. No work stoppages happened during his 17 years.
Instead, he was able to get NFL owners and players to agree on some of the league’s most historic changes: the addition of free agency and a salary cap. As commissioner, he also helped negotiate historic television contracts for the league.
Tagliabue also dealt with two of America’s biggest tragedies while in office. In 2001, he cancelled a weekend of NFL games after the terrorist attacks of September 11. In 2005, he dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, relocating the New Orleans Saints to San Antonio, while also ensuring they could return home for the 2006 season.
Tagliabue’s Retirement From the NFL
Tagliabue retired from the NFL in 2006, but that would not be the end of his involvement with the league. In 2012, his successor, Roger Goodell, appointed him to oversee the appeal of the New Orleans Saints players involved in the “Bountygate” scandal.
Tagliabue was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. His enshrinement, however, had to wait until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His family passed along news of his passing on Sunday morning. The NFL has lost one of its finest dignitaries.
