PAUL TAGLIABUE, NFL COMMISSIONER OF 17 YEARS WHO LED AN ERA OF RICHES AND EXPANSION, DIES AT 84
NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue.
“Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL,” Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father.”
News of Tagliabue’s death came shortly before seven games kicked off Sunday. The Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings held a moment of silence for Tagliabue and Marshawn Kneeland, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive tackle who died on Thursday.
Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league’s bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages.
During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Los Angeles eventually regained two teams.
Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the “Rooney Rule,” in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions.
When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just hired its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league.
In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets.
Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma.
In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.”
“Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to a serious misunderstanding.
“My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.”
While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary.
As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades.
It was a wise decision.
“When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue.
“Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.”
Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating.
Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners.
Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners.
Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling.
He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s.
Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department.
But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office.
Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job.
“After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’
“He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.”
Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily.
SEVEN FROM SUNDAY
A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, November 9, the 10th week of the 2025 season.
- With two games remaining in Week 10, there have been 38 games decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, the most in NFL history through Week 10.There were three teams – Chicago, Houston and Indianapolis – that recorded the game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime this week. Houston overcame a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Jacksonville, 36-29, while Chicago overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the New York Giants, 24-20.
- Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor recorded a career-high and franchise-record 286 scrimmage yards (244 rushing, 42 receiving) and three rushing touchdowns during the Colts’ 31-25 overtime victory over Atlanta in Berlin, the most rushing yards and most scrimmage yards ever in an international game. Taylor has 66 career rushing touchdowns and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (64 rushing touchdowns) for the most rushing touchdowns in Colts franchise history. Taylor, who is 26 years old and has 7,152 rushing yards and 73 scrimmage touchdowns (66 rushing, seven receiving) in his career, became the fifth player under the age of 27 with at least 7,000 rushing yards and 70 scrimmage touchdowns, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson.
With three rushing touchdowns in Weeks 3, 5, 7 and 10, Taylor is the only player in NFL history to record four games with at least three rushing touchdowns through the first 10 weeks of a season.
Taylor – who had 218 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on Dec. 22, 2024 – joins Derrick Henry (Dec. 6, 2018, and Dec. 29, 2019) as the only players in NFL history to record at least 200 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in multiple career games.
Taylor is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 200 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in five career games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (nine games), Jim Brown (five) and Eric Dickerson (five) as well as Derrick Henry (seven).
Taylor, who has 1,139 rushing yards and 260 receiving yards this season, is the fifth running back since 2000 to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards through the first 10 weeks of a season, joining Ezekiel Elliott (2016 with Dallas), Ahman Green (2003 with Green Bay), Chris Johnson (2009 with Tennessee) and DeMarco Murray (2014 with Dallas).
- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 280 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 127.1 rating in the team’s 42-26 win at San Francisco. Stafford is the first player in NFL history with at least four touchdowns and no interceptions in three consecutive games.Stafford has 402 career touchdown passes and became the ninth player ever with at least 400 career regular-season touchdown passes.
Stafford has 25 touchdown passes and two interceptions this season and joins Patrick Mahomes (2020) as the only players in NFL history with at least 25 touchdown passes and two-or-fewer interceptions in his team’s first nine games of a season.
Stafford has 62 career games with at least three touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the sixth most such games in NFL history.
- In his 100th career start, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson passed for 176 yards and a touchdown and added 36 rushing yards in the Ravens’ 27-19 win victory at Minnesota. Jackson now has 73 career wins through his first 100 starts, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Stabler for the fourth most wins by a quarterback in their first 100 career starts in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (78 wins), Tom Brady (76) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach (76) had more. Jackson – who has a passer rating of 103.3 in his first 100 starts – is the third quarterback in NFL history with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in his first 100 career starts, joining Aaron Rodgers (107.3 passer rating) and Patrick Mahomes (103.0).
- Detroit quarterback Jared Goff completed 25 passes on 33 pass attempts (75.8 percent) for 320 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.9 passer rating in the Lions’ 44-22 win at Washington. Goff is the third player in NFL history to have at least 45 games with 300+ passing yards in their first 10 career seasons, joining Patrick Mahomes (49 games, in his first nine seasons) and Matt Ryan (45).Goff has 27 career games with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions, the fourth-most such games by a player in his first 10 career seasons in NFL history, trailing only Aaron Rodgers (30 games), Russell Wilson (29) and Patrick Mahomes (28, in his ninth season).
- Miami running back De’Von Achane totaled 225 scrimmage yards (174 rushing, 51 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns during the Dolphins’ 30-13 win over Buffalo. Achane is the third player in NFL history with at least five rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, joining Roger Craig and Abner Haynes. Achane is the sixth player since 2000 with a rushing touchdown of at least 50 yards in each of his first three seasons in NFL history, joining Chris Johnson, Deuce McAllister, Adrian Peterson, Clinton Portis and Jonathan Taylor.
Per Next Gen Stats, Achane forced 11 missed tackles, his most in a game in his career, and gained 100 yards after forcing a missed tackle. Of his 225 yards from scrimmage, 195 came after contact (165 rushing, 30 receiving).
For more information on Next Gen Stats, check out NFL Pro, available within NFL+ Premium. With NFL+ Premium, get access to NFL Pro and track advanced analytics powered by Next Gen Stats and watch All-22 film. Available on desktop and mobile web, visit pro.nfl.com for more information.
- New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 147 yards, including touchdowns of 55 and 69 yards, in the Patriots’ 28-23 win at Tampa Bay. Henderson – who is 23 years old – is the fifth player under the age of 24 in the Super Bowl era with multiple 50-yard rushing touchdowns in a game, joining Chris Johnson (Sept. 20, 2009 with Tennessee), Doug Martin (Nov. 4, 2012 with Tampa Bay), Adrian Peterson (Oct. 14, 2007 with Minnesota) and Clinton Portis (Dec. 7, 2003 with Denver).Henderson is the fourth rookie to record multiple 50-yard rushing touchdowns in a single game in NFL history, joining Doug Martin (Nov. 4, 2012 with Tampa Bay), Pro Football Hall of Famer Lenny Moore (Oct. 28, 1956 with the Baltimore Colts) and Adrian Peterson (Oct. 14, 2007 with Minnesota).
- Additional notes from Sunday include:
- Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold recorded 178 passing yards and a touchdown for a 111.8 rating during the Seahawks’ 44-22 win over Arizona, while wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished with five receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown.Darnold is the only player in NFL history to record a passer rating of 100-or-higher in at least six games of a player’s first nine games with a team multiple times (2024 with Minnesota).Smith-Njigba joins Antonio Brown (2014 with Pittsburgh) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (1995 with Dallas) as the only players with at least 75 receiving yards in each of his first nine games of a season in NFL history.
- New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart recorded 242 passing yards, while adding 66 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Chicago.Dart is the only rookie quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games.Dart joined Cam Newton (2011 with Carolina) as the only rookie quarterbacks in NFL history to record at least seven rushing touchdowns through their first seven career starts.
Dart is the fifth rookie quarterback with at least five games of 50+ rushing yards, joining Cam Newton (eight games in 2011 with Carolina), Robert Griffin III (eight in 2012 with Washington), Jayden Daniels (eight in 2024 with Washington) and Lamar Jackson (six in 2018 with Baltimore).
- San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey finished with 96 scrimmage yards (66 receiving, 30 rushing) in today’s game against the Rams. McCaffrey, who has 626 rushing yards and 692 receiving yards this season, is the third player in NFL history with at least 600 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in four career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and Brian Westbrook. McCaffrey joins Timmy Brown (1965), Roger Craig (1985) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (1998) as the only players with at least 600 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in his team’s first 10 games of a season in NFL history.
McCaffrey – who has 7,013 rushing yards and 5,158 receiving yards in his career – is the fourth player in NFL history with at least 7,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marcus Allen and Marshall Faulk, as well as Tiki Barber.
- New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Jets’ 27-20 win over Cleveland. Nwangwu is the fourth player in NFL history with a kickoff return touchdown in four of his first five seasons, joining Josh Cribbs (five seasons), Percy Harvin (four) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell. Nwangwu is the sixth player in NFL history with five career kick return touchdowns of at least 95 yards, joining Cordarrelle Patterson (eight), Josh Cribbs (five), Dante Hall (five), Leon Washington (five) and Abe Woodson (five).
NFL ROUNDUP: TEXANS OUTSCORE JAGS 26-0 IN 4TH, SURGE TO WIN
Davis Mills delivered a trio of fourth-quarter touchdowns to help the Houston Texans erase a 19-point deficit and rally for a 36-29 win over the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Mills completed 27 of 45 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in his first start since January 2023 as he took the place of C.J. Stroud (concussion). Mills led the Texans on three straight scoring drives after they fell behind 29-10 with 1:33 left in the third quarter. The game-winning score came on a 14-yard Mills scramble on third-and-goal with 30 seconds left, finishing off an improbable comeback for a win Houston (4-5) badly needed.
The Jaguars’ Parker Washington had receiving and punt-return touchdowns in the first half as Trevor Lawrence completed 13 of 23 passes for 158 yards, a touchdown and a pick.
The Texans amassed 196 yards of offense on its final three possessions while Jacksonville (5-4) managed just 11. The Texans outgained the Jaguars 412-213, handing Jacksonville its third loss in the last four games.
Colts 31, Falcons 25 (OT)
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 8-yard score at 3:31 of overtime, as Indianapolis recorded a win over Atlanta in Berlin, Germany.
After forcing a punt on the opening possession of overtime, the Colts (8-2) needed just seven plays to seal the win. Daniel Jones threw for 255 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Indianapolis, which has won five of its last six games.
Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr. threw for 177 yards and a touchdown. Bijan Robinson rushed for 84 yards and Tyler Allgeier added 57 more and two touchdowns for the Falcons (3-6), who have dropped four in a row.
Dolphins 30, Bills 13
De’Von Achane ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries to lead Miami to a drought-snapping victory over Buffalo in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Achane’s 59-yard touchdown run with 6:31 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Dolphins a 23-6 lead. His 35-yard touchdown run with 3:17 left settled the outcome as Miami beat the Bills for only the third time in the teams’ past 19 meetings, snapping a seven-game losing streak in the series.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 28 of 40 passes for 306 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception, but he lost a fumble and was sacked three times. The Dolphins’ defense forced three turnovers and became the first team to shut out Buffalo in the first half since Week 6 in 2023.
Bears 24, Giants 20
Caleb Williams scrambled untouched down the left side from 17 yards out with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter and Chicago rallied for a victory over visiting New York.
After Giants punter Jaime Gilliam shanked a 26-yard punt to the Bears’ 47-yard line, Chicago easily moved into the red zone. On second-and-8, Williams faked a handoff to D’Andre Swift and took off down the left side. He eluded New York defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris and waltzed into the end zone when tight end Cole Kmet blocked defensive back Tyler Nubin.
The Bears (6-3) won for the sixth time in seven games and pulled off their second straight late victory a week after Williams threw a 58-yard TD to Colston Loveland with 17 seconds left in Cincinnati. The Giants lost (2-8) lost their fourth straight game and also lost rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart to a concussion after he hit the ground hard following a fumble in the third quarter.
Ravens 27, Vikings 19
Lamar Jackson completed 17 of 29 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown and Baltimore finished strong to secure a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Justice Hill rushed for a touchdown and Mark Andrews hauled in a touchdown pass for the Ravens (4-5), who won their third game in a row after a four-game losing streak. Derrick Henry had 75 yards on 20 carries for Baltimore, which outscored the Vikings 18-9 in the second half.
JJ McCarthy completed 20 of 42 passes for 248 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Minnesota (4-5). Jalen Nailor caught five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, and Aaron Jones Sr. scored a touchdown on the ground.
Jets 27, Browns 20
Breece Hall rushed for 83 yards and caught the go-ahead touchdown pass as New York won its second straight game, stopping visiting Cleveland in East Rutherford, N.J.
Hall put the Jets (2-7) ahead for good 38 seconds into the fourth quarter, catching Justin Fields’ short pass and rumbling 42 yards to the end zone for a 24-17 lead. New York ran just 47 plays from scrimmage and finished the day with 169 total yards, winning thanks in large part to two special teams touchdowns in the first quarter.
Rookie Dillon Gabriel hit 17 of 32 attempts for 167 yards with two touchdowns for the Browns (2-7), while running back Quinshon Judkins gained 75 yards on 22 rushes. Cleveland totaled 278 yards as Gabriel was sacked six times for 47 yards. The Jets’ Will McDonald IV recorded four of those sacks.
Saints 17, Panthers 7
Tyler Shough threw two touchdown passes in his first NFL victory as a starter and New Orleans beat Carolina in Charlotte to end a four-game losing streak.
The Saints (2-8) held the Panthers (5-5) to 175 yards of total offense while winning for the first time since defeating the New York Giants on Oct. 5. Shough, making his second NFL start, completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards, with scoring strikes to Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. Alvin Kamara gained 83 yards on 22 carries.
Carolina quarterback Bryce Young completed 17 of 25 passes for 124 yards and an interception, while Rico Dowdle, who had been one of the league’s most productive running backs in recent weeks, was held to 53 yards with a TD on 18 carries.
Rams 42, 49ers 26
Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, Kyren Williams rushed for two scores and Los Angeles avenged one of its two defeats with a victory over San Francisco in Santa Clara, Calif.
Stafford completed 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards and extended his NFL-best passing touchdown total to 25. He has at least four TD passes (13 total) in each of his past three games. Davante Adams and Puka Nacua caught touchdown passes as the Rams (7-2) extended their winning streak to four games while keeping pace with the Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC West.
Mac Jones threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns on 33-of-39 passing for the 49ers, who lost for the second time in their past three games. George Kittle had nine receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown for San Francisco (6-4), while Christian McCaffrey had eight receptions for 66 yards.
Patriots 28, Buccaneers 23
Rookie TreVeyon Henderson rushed for a season-best 147 yards and scored on two long touchdowns and New England stretched its winning streak to seven games with a victory over host Tampa Bay.
Drake Maye passed for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the AFC East-leading Patriots (8-2). Kyle Williams and Stefon Diggs caught touchdown passes and Mack Hollins had six catches for 106 yards as New England improved to 5-0 on the road.
Baker Mayfield completed 28 of 43 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns for the Buccaneers (6-3). Tez Johnson caught two touchdown passes and Emeka Egbuka had six catches for 115 yards and one score.
Seahawks 44, Cardinals 22
DeMarcus Lawrence returned two fumbles for touchdowns, both forced by Tyrice Knight, as Seattle ran away from visiting Arizona.
Sam Darnold completed 10 of 12 passes for 178 yards with a touchdown as the Seahawks relied on the running game after building a 35-0 lead. Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III combined to rush for 150 yards for Seattle (7-2), which won its fourth consecutive game and remained tied with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFC West.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett was 22-of-44 passing for 258 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked five times. Tight end Trey McBride made nine catches for 127 yards and a TD for Arizona (3-6).
Lions 44, Commanders 22
Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns, Jared Goff passed for 320 yards and three scores and Detroit routed host Washington.
Gibbs rushed for 142 yards and two scores and caught a touchdown pass for the Lions (6-3), who scored on their first eight possessions. Goff completed 25 of 33 passes for his second 300-yard game of the season, and Jameson Williams had six receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown.
With President Trump on hand, the Commanders (3-7) lost their fifth straight game and have been outscored 154-65 over the past four. Starting in place of injured quarterback Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota was 16-of-22 passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
