Paul Tagliabue

Paul Tagliabue
Tagliabue in August 2002
Commissioner of the National Football League
In office November 5, 1989 – September 1, 2006
Preceded by	Pete Rozelle
Succeeded by	Roger Goodell
Personal details
Born	Paul John Tagliabue (1940-11-24) November 24, 1940 (age 76) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	Georgetown University New York University School of Law

Paul John Tagliabue (/ˈtæɡliəbuː/; born November 24, 1940) is the former Commissioner of the National Football League. He took the position in 1989 and was succeeded by Roger Goodell, who was elected to the position on August 8, 2006. Tagliabue's retirement took effect on September 1, 2006. He had previously served as a lawyer for the NFL. Tagliabue served as Chairman of Board of Directors of Georgetown University from 2008 to 2015.

Tagliabue was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the third of four sons of Charles and May Tagliabue. He is of Italian descent. Tagliabue received an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Georgetown University and was captain of the 1961-1962 team. He graduated in 1962 as president of his senior class, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Dean's List graduate.

Tagliabue graduated from New York University School of Law in 1965. He has received honorary degrees from Colgate University and Northeastern University.

From 1969 to 1989, Tagliabue practiced law with the Washington, D.C. firm Covington & Burling.

After serving as a lawyer for the NFL, Tagliabue was selected by NFL owners to succeed Pete Rozelle as Commissioner of the NFL in 1989.