Paul Tagliabue, was the NFL commissioner from November 1989 to September 2006, has passed away at the age of 84, his family announced. The apparent cause of death was heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease.
Tagliabue took over as NFL commissioner over for Pete Rozelle. He was succeeded by current commissioner Roger Goodell in 2006.
Tagliabue’s was a widely successful commissioner as the league saw significant growth under his leadership. The league added four teams – the Carolina Panthers (1995), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995), Cleveland Browns (1999) and Houston Texans (2002) during his tenure, growing the lead from 28 teams to 32 teams.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2020.
