Paul Tagliabue, who served as NFL Commissioner for 17 seasons during a period of significant growth and prosperity for the league, passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 84, according to his family.
The reported cause of death was heart failure, with complications related to Parkinson’s disease.
Tagliabue assumed the role of Commissioner in 1989, succeeding Pete Rozelle, and was succeeded by current Commissioner Roger Goodell in 2006.
Goodell released the following statement on the passing of his predecessor.
“All of us in the NFL are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Tagliabue, whose principled leadership and vision put the NFL on the path to unparalleled success.
“Throughout his decades-long leadership on behalf of the NFL, first as outside counsel and then during a powerful 17-year tenure as commissioner, Paul served with integrity, passion and an unwavering conviction to do what was best for the league.
“Paul was the ultimate steward of the game—tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL. He viewed every challenge and opportunity through the lens of what was best for the greater good, a principle he inherited from Pete Rozelle and passed on to me.
The Dolphins make me cry, Miami Dolphins and Chris Grier announce mutual separation.
“During his Hall of Fame NFL career, Paul fostered labor peace with our players, oversaw the expansion of the league to 32 teams, ushered in an era of state-of-the-art stadiums and laid the important groundwork of establishing the league as a global brand.
“He helped modernize the structure of the league office and its business operations, providing the playbook for the NFL’s strategic embrace of his era’s emerging technologies including cable, satellite and the internet.
“Paul was a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion and guided the league through the challenges of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
“I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father.
“Jane and I extend our heartfelt condolences to entire Tagliabue family, especially Chan, his wife of 60 years, and their children Drew and Emily.”
During Tagliabue’s tenure as commissioner, the value of many NFL franchises increased significantly, in some cases by tenfold. Upon his departure, over two-thirds of the league’s 32 teams were either operating in or constructing stadiums that did not exist when he assumed office in 1989. Additionally, the league expanded by adding four new franchises—the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, the Cleveland Browns in 1999, and the Houston Texans in 2002—raising the total number of teams from 28 to 32.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2020.
Photo/ProFootballHallofFame/X
