Paul Tagliabue, who was the commissioner of the NFL for 17 years, died at age 84 this past Sunday . His cause of death was heart failure and complications of Parkinson's disease, NBC Sports reported .

Tagliabue became NFL commissioner in 1989 and held the position until his retirement in 2006. He took over the position for Pete Rozelle and was succeeded by Roger Goodell, the current commissioner.

“All of us in the NFL are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Tagliabue, whose principled leadership and vision put the NFL on the path to unparalleled success,” said Goodell in a statement regarding Tagliabue's death.

“Throughout his decades-long leadership on behalf of the NFL, first as outside counsel and then during a powerful 17-year tenure as commissioner, Paul served with inte

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