Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue passed away Sunday morning at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, at the age of 84, his family announced. The cause of death was reported as heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease.
A lawyer by training, Tagliabue became the seventh commissioner of the NFL in 1989, succeeding Pete Rozelle. He led the league for 17 years, overseeing a period of remarkable growth before stepping down in 2006, when Roger Goodell took over. In 2020, Tagliabue was honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“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,” Goodell said in a statement Sunday. “He served with integrity, passion, and an unwavering conviction to do what was best for the league.”
During his tenure, Tagliabue guided the NFL through an era of massive expansion and innovation. He grew the league from 28 to 32 teams, launched the World League of American Football (later known as NFL Europe), and helped broaden the sport’s global reach — paving the way for today’s NFL International Series.
Goodell praised his predecessor’s influence, noting that Tagliabue “fostered labor peace with players, oversaw league expansion, ushered in an era of modern stadiums, and positioned the NFL as a global brand.” He also credited Tagliabue with modernizing the league’s business structure and embracing new technologies like cable, satellite, and the internet.
Tagliabue was known for his steady leadership in times of crisis. Following the 9/11 attacks, he postponed NFL games for the first time since the 1987 strike — a decision that reshaped the league calendar, with the Super Bowl moving to February permanently.
He also played a pivotal role in keeping the New Orleans Saints in the city after Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005. Under his insistence, the franchise remained in New Orleans and returned to the Superdome the following season — a moment many credit with lifting the city’s spirit during recovery.
Even after retiring, Tagliabue remained connected to the league. As part of the Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class, he later served as an independent arbitrator, notably overturning player suspensions in the Saints bounty scandal while affirming the league’s investigative findings.
Paul Tagliabue leaves behind a legacy of vision, stability, and transformation — a commissioner who reshaped the modern NFL and helped turn it into the global powerhouse it is today.
