Paul Tagliabue, who led the National Football League (NFL) from 1989 to 2006, died on November 9, 2025, at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, at age 84; his family said the cause was heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease. Tagliabue succeeded Pete Rozelle and presided over 17 seasons marked by lucrative television deals, new stadium construction, and uninterrupted labor peace with no strikes or lockouts.
Under Tagliabue, the NFL expanded from 28 to 32 teams and implemented measures that reshaped hiring practices, including the Rooney Rule adopted in 2003, while also drawing criticism that the league moved too slowly on concussions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020 and is survived by his wife, Chandler, and their children, Drew and Emily, according to statements shared with multiple outlets.
