Paul Tagliabue, who served as NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006, died on Sunday at age 84 from heart failure complicated by Parkinson's disease. His family announced the passing in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue's leadership oversaw significant league growth, including expansion and labor peace.
Paul Tagliabue, the seventh full-time commissioner of the National Football League, passed away on November 9, 2025, at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was 84 years old. The cause of death was heart failure stemming from complications related to Parkinson's disease, according to family statements and reports from Adam Schefter and the NFL.
Tagliabue succeeded Pete Rozelle in 1989 and held the position for 17 years until Roger Goodell took over in 2006. During his tenure, the NFL expanded from 28 to 32 teams, adding the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans. He introduced the salary cap in 1994, establishing modern free agency and promoting competitive balance.
Key achievements included negotiating landmark television deals, such as the $3.6 billion four-year contract in 1990, and fostering labor peace with no work stoppages. Tagliabue launched the World League of American Football, later NFL Europe, to grow the game internationally. He also implemented the Rooney Rule to promote diversity in hiring and oversaw the construction of 20 new stadiums.
In times of crisis, Tagliabue postponed the NFL's Week 2 games following the September 11, 2001, attacks—the first full cancellation since the 1987 strike—and ensured the New Orleans Saints remained in the city after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, playing home games at the repaired Superdome in 2006.
Post-retirement, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020 as part of the Centennial Class and inducted in 2021. He later handled appeals in the Saints' bounty scandal, overturning player suspensions while upholding the investigation's findings.
Current commissioner Roger Goodell praised Tagliabue as 'the ultimate steward of the game,' noting his integrity and vision that guided the NFL to unparalleled success. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Chandler; son Drew; and daughter Emily.
Born November 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Tagliabue was a standout basketball player at Georgetown University before earning a law degree from New York University in 1965. He served as the NFL's outside counsel prior to his commissioner role.
