Paul Tagliabue, the former NFL commissioner who oversaw a period of major growth and stability in the league, has died at the age of 84. According to the NFL, Tagliabue passed away from heart failure in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He had been living with Parkinson’s disease in recent years.
Tagliabue served as commissioner from 1989 to 2006, succeeding Pete Rozelle. During his 17-year tenure, he negotiated major television deals, oversaw the construction of new stadiums, and helped grow the NFL into a global sports powerhouse. Under his leadership, the league saw labor peace with no player strikes and expanded to new markets.
He also introduced the “Rooney Rule,” requiring NFL teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions, a move that reshaped hiring practices across professional sports.
However, Tagliabue was also criticized for not taking stronger action on concussion awareness and player safety early on. He later acknowledged and regretted some of his comments on the issue.
Tagliabue was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. He is survived by his wife, Chandler, and two children.