NEW YORK, March 20 (UPI) -- Paul Tagliabue is retiring after more than 16 years as National Football League commissioner.
Tagliabue, 65, presided over the NFL during a time of tremendous growth. The league went from 28 teams to 32 during his tenure and also signed the largest television contracts ever by a sports organization. He said he plans to step down in July.
After the U.S. Supreme Court declared the NFL's contract with its players invalid, Tagliabue negotiated a pact that allowed players to become free agents while capping team salaries.
A native of New Jersey, Tagliabue attended Georgetown University on an athletic scholarship. He went on to earn a law degree from New York University.
Tagliabue first became involved with the NFL as a lawyer. In 1986, he defended the league in an antitrust suit brought by the U.S. Football League, losing the case but putting on such a good defense that damages were a paltry $3.
When Pete Rozelle stepped down in 1989, Tagliabue was named to succeed him.
