Paul Tagliabue Net Worth

What Is Paul Tagliabue's Net Worth?

Paul Tagliabue is an American former Commissioner of the National Football League who has a net worth of $20 million. Paul Tagliabue served as Commissioner of the National Football League from 1989 to 2006, succeeding Pete Rozelle after previously working as a lawyer for the NFL. His 17-year tenure was marked by extraordinary growth that transformed professional football, including expansion, labor peace, new stadiums, and unprecedented television coverage and revenues.

Under Tagliabue's leadership, the NFL expanded from 28 teams to 32, adding franchises in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Cleveland (technically an expansion team that inherited the Browns' history after their move to Baltimore), and Houston. As a skilled negotiator, he dramatically increased the NFL's television contracts from $473 million in 1989 to over $3.6 billion by 2006, while the average value of NFL franchises grew by 212% during a seven-year period under his watch.

Tagliabue's most significant achievement was establishing labor harmony following the strikes of 1982 and 1987. His close relationship with NFL Players Association leader Gene Upshaw led to long-term collective bargaining agreements that helped ensure league stability. He also helped finance the construction of more than 20 team stadiums and implemented strict policies against performance-enhancing substances.

Tagliabue made bold decisions on social issues, including moving Super Bowl XXVII from Arizona when the state refused to establish a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and played a crucial role in returning the Saints to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In recognition of his contributions, Tagliabue was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its Centennial Class of 2020 and formally enshrined in 2021.

Contracts and Salary

Paul Tagliabue served as commissioner of the NFL from 1989 to 2006, overseeing a period of major growth and expansion. During his tenure, the league added new teams, secured long-term labor peace, and dramatically increased its revenues. Tagliabue's compensation reflected the NFL's rising stature, although it remained modest compared to what his successor Roger Goodell would later earn. In 1998, Tagliabue's salary reportedly rose to about $5 million per year. By 2004, a contract extension bumped his annual earnings to roughly $8 million. In his final year as commissioner, he earned approximately $10 million. Even after stepping down in 2006, Tagliabue continued to receive substantial deferred compensation and retirement benefits, including an $8.58 million payout in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. While significant at the time, Tagliabue's earnings ultimately pale in comparison to the enormous salary Goodell has earned during his tenure. Between 2007 and 2025, Roger earned $700 million. Roger Goodell's salary is $65 million.

Early Life

Paul John Tagliabue was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on November 24, 1940. He attended Georgetown University on an athletic scholarship and was captain of the basketball team. He served as president of his senior class and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist and Dean's List graduate. Paul went on to graduate from New York University School of Law in 1965. Tagliabue also practiced law with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., from 1969 to 1989.

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Commissioner

Paul Tagliabue was serving as a lawyer for the NFL when he was selected by the owners to succeed Pete Rozelle as commissioner in 1989. Over his tenure as commissioner, he oversaw many important changes and cemented his legacy with several key moves:

In 1993, it was announced that the league would add new franchises in Charlotte and Jacksonville. The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars would begin play in 1995. Also, after the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens, the Browns were added back to Cleveland in 1999. This technically counted as an expansion team, but they kept the history, name, and colors of the team that relocated to Baltimore. In 2002, the Houston Texans were created, bringing the total number of teams from 28 to 32.

Tagliabue started the spring developmental league, the World League of American Football (WLAF), consisting of seven teams in North America and three in Europe. It was unsuccessful in the United States, and it closed down in 1992 after just its second season. But in 1995, it returned as NFL Europe with six teams, all located in Europe. This was later shut down by Tagliabue's successor, Roger Goodell, after the 2007 season. The 1992 Eagle Award from the United States Sports Academy was given to Paul, honoring him for his significant contributions to international sport.

Tagliabue oversaw the movement of both Los Angeles franchises, with the Raiders returning to Oakland and the Rams relocating to St. Louis. In 1997, the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee, changing their name from the Oilers to the Titans upon getting a permanent stadium in Nashville.

Just two days after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, Paul made the call to cancel all games for the upcoming weekend. It was the first time an entire week's worth of games had been canceled since the NFL strike of 1987. The postponed games were added to the end of the regular season, and the Super Bowl was moved into February for the first time.

Tagliabue is also remembered for taking a stand against the State of Arizona for refusing to establish a state holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. as other states had done. Arizona was set to host the Super Bowl for the first time in 1993, but Paul moved Super Bowl XXVII to Pasadena instead. Arizona would end up getting Super Bowl XXX in 1996.

Tagliabue is credited with convincing Saints owner Tom Benson to abandon any idea of moving the team to San Antonio after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. His efforts to return the Saints to Louisiana were made a league priority, and they were successful.

Life After the NFL

After his career as NFL Commissioner, Tagliabue returned to Covington & Burling to serve as senior counsel. In 2008, Paul was selected as chairman of Georgetown University's board of directors for a three-year term. Tagliabue has been recognized for his work with the gay rights group PFLAG and served on the Advisory Board of the Iris Network, a nonprofit blindness rehabilitation agency. In 2012, Paul was appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to hear the appeals of the players suspended in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. He confirmed Goodell's findings but ultimately overturned all player suspensions. On January 15, 2020, Tagliabue was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class of 2021.

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