Overview
- Tagliabue died Sunday at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, from apparent heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease, his family said.
- He led the league from 1989 to 2006 after Pete Rozelle, and current commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement praising his leadership and mentorship.
- Under his watch the NFL expanded from 28 to 32 teams by adding the Panthers, Jaguars, modern-day Browns and Texans, while securing new stadiums and record media deals.
- Working closely with NFLPA leader Gene Upshaw, he delivered sustained labor peace and helped usher in free agency and the salary cap.
- He canceled games after 9/11 and backed the Saints’ return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, and faced lasting criticism over the league’s early handling of concussions.