The football world came together on Sunday to mourn the loss of former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who passed away on Sunday at age 84. Famed for his intellect and integrity, Tagliabue will be remembered as one of the most consequential figures in league history.

This news has shocked the NFL world. And the Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO, Clark Hunt, gave a tribute to Paul.”Paul Tagliabue’s leadership was instrumental in building the modern NFL,” Hunt said through their official website

Tagliabue was the NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006, taking over from Pete Rozelle and leading the league for nearly two decades. During his time, the league expanded from 28 to 32 teams.

“For decades, Paul served as an advisor, counselor, and eventually commissioner of the National Football League, and his work helped to grow the game across the country and around the world,” Hunt said in a tribute that perfectly distilled an era that was, a paean to a time when Tagliabue oversaw the league with measured calm into the maelstrom of frenetic commercialization and social change.

During his 17-year stint, Tagliabue negotiated record-setting television deals that institutionalized the NFL’s status as a dominant player in American entertainment. His foresight in expanding broadcasting partnerships-including some early efforts which would one day crystallize into the NFL Network, prepared the league for the digital age.

Not least important, he was steadfast in a commitment to stability: Tagliabue oversaw one of the longest periods of labor peace in professional sports, and under his watch, not one season was lost either to strikes or lockouts.

Hunt’s family was one of the league founders, and Clark continued that Tagliabue’s leadership moved it forward with the values on which it was founded.  “With his characteristic humility and integrity, Paul ushered the League into the 21st century while maintaining the principles of its founding families,” Hunt said.

Tagliabue was widely regarded for his personal decency and reflective leadership. The sports world will remember him not just as a commissioner but as a mentor and friend. ”My family and I are deeply saddened by Paul’s passing,” Hunt said.

“On behalf of the Kansas City Chiefs organization, we send our prayers to his wife Chan, his children Drew and Emily, and the entire Tagliabue family.” This message deeply resonated with the people across the league.

Paul Tagliabue’s Unmatched Legacy

The commissionership era of Paul Tagliabue changed several dynamics toward the future of the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers in 1995, the Cleveland Browns in 1999, and the Houston Texans in 2002 were added in his tenure.

His era saw several franchise changes, which he oversaw with fairness to maintain financial stability. One of the many defining moments of his era was the historic decision he made in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. He decided to postpone the games for the first time since 1987; this move was appreciated nationwide.

The steadying influence provided at times of crisis was important in setting in concrete the NFL’s image as not only a sport but a cultural institution capable of bringing people closer together. Besides all that happened on the gridiron, he pioneered diversity and inclusion inside league offices, paving the way for future executives and minority hires across football operations.

While accepting his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, Tagliabue deflected credit to the many people who worked alongside him, saying his legacy was that of the entire NFL.