Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner who oversaw lucrative era, dies at age of 84

League negotiated rich TV contracts under leadership

Tagliabue was criticized over concussion action

Paul Tagliabue, who helped usher in a lucrative era for the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions has died at the age of 84.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Sunday.

Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner from 1989, when he succeeded Pete Rozelle, to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020.