Paul Tagliabue, Architect of the Modern NFL, Dies at 84
Paul Tagliabue, who served as NFL Commissioner for 17 years and oversaw a period of unprecedented growth and stability for the league, died on Thursday at the age of 84. His tenure, from October 1989 to the spring of 2006, is widely credited with steering the NFL toward its current position as a dominant force in American sports and culture.
Tagliabue’s appointment followed a seven-month search, and according to Joe Browne, a long-time NFL executive and confidant of previous commissioners Pete Rozelle and Tagliabue, marked a turning point. “When Paul was named commissioner…that’s when the league got back on track,” Browne stated. A key element of Tagliabue’s success was his insistence on consolidating control over labor negotiations and commercial business dealings within the commissioner’s office – a demand the owners ultimately agreed to. This shift proved crucial to the league’s ”tremendous rebound” throughout the 1990s and beyond, facilitating expansion and increased revenue.
Prior to becoming commissioner, Tagliabue was a partner at the prestigious law firm Covington and Burling, where he represented the NFL in a series of legal actions during the 1970s and 1980s, forging close relationships with Rozelle and other league officials. He secured the position over New Orleans General Manager Jim Finks after a contentious process that highlighted divisions between the NFL’s established owners and a newer generation.
Despite these initial divisions, Tagliabue ultimately united the ownership groups, leaning more heavily on the support of the “old guard” than on newer owners like Jerry Jones. He also fostered a productive relationship with John Upshaw, the head of the NFL Players Association, breaking from previous contentious dealings. Tagliabue and Upshaw prioritized respectful negotiations focused on mutually beneficial outcomes, with compromise as a central tenet - though the union sometiems faced criticism for being overly accommodating.
Born November 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Tagliabue was a standout athlete, captaining the basketball team at Georgetown University, where he graduated in 1962. He was a Rhodes scholar finalist and later earned his law degree from NYU in 1965, followed by a period of service in the Defense Department.
While known for his reserved nature, which contrasted with the more affable style of his predecessor Pete rozelle, tagliabue demonstrated compassion and leadership in times of crisis. Following the September 11th attacks, he personally supported NFL employees who had lost loved ones, accompanying Ed Tighe, an NFL lawyer, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
art Shell, a Hall of Fame player and the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach, praised Tagliabue’s commitment to improvement. “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway,'” Shell recalled. “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things.Paul never lost sight of his duty to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.”
Paul Tagliabue is survived by his wife,Chandler,son Drew,and daughter Emily.
