"The value of many of the league's franchises increased tenfold during Tagliabue's time in the commissioner's chair. When he left, more than two-thirds of the NFL's 32 teams were either playing in or building stadiums that didn't exist when he took over as commissioner in 1989. The league also added four teams -- the Charlotte Panthers (1995), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995), present-day Cleveland Browns (1999) and Houston Texans (2002) -- during his tenure, going from 28 teams to 32."
""In examining what makes the NFL so compelling, I always return to the players who make the game what it is," Goodell said during his Hall of Fame induction speech. "The athletes who thrive in the competitive environment of the National Football League tend to be intensely motivated individuals with clear values and exceptional goals. ... We need to respect the players for having these qualities and for what they represent as leaders in sports and in society.""
Paul Tagliabue died Sunday morning at age 84 from heart failure complicated by Parkinson's disease. He served as NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006, succeeding Pete Rozelle and preceding Roger Goodell. Franchise values increased roughly tenfold during his tenure, and more than two-thirds of teams were playing in or building new stadiums by the time he left. The league expanded from 28 to 32 teams with the additions of the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, the present-day Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans. He led the league through major crises, canceling games after the Sept. 11 attacks and guiding responses to Hurricane Katrina. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2020.
Read at ESPN.com
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