Paul Tagliabue, who presided over the NFL as commissioner for 17 years and played a pivotal role in the league”s growth and labor stability, has passed away at the age of 84 due to heart failure. His family notified the league of his death, which occurred in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had been battling Parkinson”s disease, served as commissioner from 1989 until 2006, succeeding Pete Rozelle. In 2020, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class. He was succeeded by current commissioner Roger Goodell.
In other football news, Jonathan Taylor led the Indianapolis Colts to a thrilling 31-25 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons in the first regular-season NFL game held in Berlin, Germany. Taylor rushed for an impressive 244 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner with an 8-yard run in overtime. Colts kicker Michael Badgley had previously tied the game with a 44-yard field goal just 25 seconds before the end of regulation.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers are preparing to face the Philadelphia Eagles this Monday night at Lambeau Field. The Packers struggled to stop the Eagles” signature “tush push” play during the offseason and will need to find a way to contain it on the field after their previous losses to Philadelphia last season.
In other sports developments, Real Madrid played to a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano, marking their second consecutive setback in the Spanish league following a loss to Liverpool in the Champions League. Despite the draw, Madrid remains at the top of the league standings.
In the world of golf, Aaron Rai secured his first title of the year by winning the Abu Dhabi Championship in a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood.
