Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Dies at 84

Paul Tagliabue, the former NFL commissioner who guided the league through an era of financial growth and labor stability over 17 years, died Sunday at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was 84.

Tagliabue's family informed the NFL of his death, which stemmed from heart failure complicated by Parkinson's disease, according to league spokesman Brian McCarthy. Tagliabue served as commissioner from 1989 to 2006, succeeding Pete Rozelle and paving the way for current commissioner Roger Goodell. Before taking the top job, he had worked as outside counsel for the NFL at the law firm Covington & Burling for two decades.

During his tenure, Tagliabue oversaw significant expansion and modernization of the league. The NFL grew from 28 to 32 teams, with new franchises replacing those that relocated, including the Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore before an expansion team returned to Cleveland. He negotiated lucrative television contracts that injected billions of dollars into the league's coffers and facilitated the construction of state-of-the-art stadiums across the country. Notably, his leadership ensured no labor stoppages, fostering a cooperative relationship with the NFL Players...