Paul Tagliabue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Tagliabue
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Tagliabue in 2002
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| 5th Commissioner of the NFL | |
| In office November 5, 1989 – September 1, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Pete Rozelle |
| Succeeded by | Roger Goodell |
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Paul John Tagliabue
November 24, 1940 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Spouse | Chandler Minter (m. 1965) |
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| Residences | Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University (BA) New York University (JD) |
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Football career |
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Paul John Tagliabue (born November 24, 1940) is an American lawyer. He is best known for being the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL). He held this important job from 1989 until September 1, 2006. Before becoming commissioner, he worked as a lawyer for the NFL.
During his time as commissioner, the NFL grew bigger. Four new teams joined the league. He also helped keep the Saints team in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Paul Tagliabue also made the decision to postpone games after the September 11, 2001, attacks. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
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Early Life and Education
Paul Tagliabue was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the third of four sons. His family was of Italian background. He grew up in the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City.
He went to St. Michael's High School. There, he was a star basketball player. He earned a scholarship to play basketball at Georgetown University. He was even the captain of his team in 1961–62. He finished college in 1962 and was president of his senior class. He also made the Dean's List. Paul Tagliabue later earned his law degree from New York University School of Law in 1965.
Leading the National Football League
Paul Tagliabue became the NFL Commissioner in 1989. He took over from Pete Rozelle. As commissioner, he was in charge of the entire league.
Growing the League
When Tagliabue started, the NFL had 28 teams. By the time he left, it had grown to 32 teams. New teams were added in Charlotte and Jacksonville in 1995. A 31st team was added in Cleveland in 1999. This team took over the history of the Cleveland Browns. The 32nd team, the Houston Texans, joined in 2002.
NFL Games in Europe
The NFL also played pre-season games in Europe. Paul Tagliabue started a special league called the World League of American Football (WLAF). It had teams in North America and Europe. After a couple of years, the league stopped playing in the US. In 1995, it came back as NFL Europe with six teams in Europe. Most of these teams were in Germany. After Tagliabue retired, the NFL started playing regular season games in London. In 2022, the NFL played its first regular season game in Germany.
Team Changes
During Tagliabue's time, some teams moved to new cities. In 1995, the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis. The Raiders moved back to Oakland. In 1996, the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens. In 1997, the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee. They later changed their name to the Tennessee Titans.
Response to September 11 Attacks
After the terrorist attacks in 2001, Paul Tagliabue made a big decision. He announced that all NFL games scheduled for that weekend would be canceled. He said this was because of the serious events and safety concerns. It was the first time the league canceled a whole week of games since 1987. The postponed games were played at the end of the regular season. This meant the Super Bowl was played in February for the first time ever.
Important Decisions and Legacy
Paul Tagliabue is remembered for several important actions:
- He stood up to the state of Arizona. Arizona did not want to create a state holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.. The Super Bowl XXVII was supposed to be in Arizona in 1993. But because of this issue, Tagliabue moved the Super Bowl to Pasadena. Arizona later hosted the Super Bowl in 1996.
- He worked hard to bring the Saints back to New Orleans. This happened after Hurricane Katrina caused major problems in 2005. Tagliabue convinced the team owner to keep the Saints in Louisiana. He made sure the league helped the team return home.
After the NFL
After leaving the NFL, Paul Tagliabue returned to working as a lawyer. He also served as chairman of the board for Georgetown University.
In 2012, he was asked by current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to review some player suspensions. These suspensions were part of the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. Tagliabue agreed with the investigation's findings. However, he decided to overturn the players' suspensions.
Awards and Recognition
Paul Tagliabue has received several honors. In 1992, he won the Eagle Award. This award is given for important contributions to international sports. On January 15, 2020, he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was officially honored on August 7, 2021.
Personal Life
Paul Tagliabue married Chandler Minter in 1965. They have two children:
- Andrew Paul Tagliabue (born 1969)
- Emily Elizabeth Tagliabue (born 1972)
He and his wife live in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Tagliabue para niños
