The world of sports is mourning the loss of Paul Tagliabue, the former NFL commissioner who passed away on November 9, 2025, at the age of 84. While his professional legacy includes guiding the league through periods of immense growth and crisis, his personal life was defined by a long-standing marriage and a close-knit family. He died at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, from heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease, leaving behind his wife, children, and grandkids.
For 17 years as commissioner, Tagliabue was a towering figure in American sports, but away from the stadiums and boardrooms, he was a dedicated family man. His life with his wife, Chandler, and their two kids, Drew and Emily, provided a steady foundation throughout his demanding career. Let’s get to know the personal side of the man who helped shape the modern NFL.
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A Lasting Partnership and Immediate Family
Paul Tagliabue’s most enduring partnership began not in a corporate office, but in law school. He married Chandler Minter on August 28, 1965, in Washington, D.C. The couple had met while they were both students, and Chandler, a graduate of the Georgia State College for Women, had moved to New York City for law school, where they were introduced. Their marriage lasted for 60 years, a testament to a bond that weathered the immense pressures that came with leading the National Football League.
Together, Paul and Chandler built a family and made their home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where they would reside for decades. They welcomed two children. Their son, Andrew Paul Tagliabue, who goes by Drew, was born in 1969. Drew is openly gay and lives in New York City. Their daughter, Emily Elizabeth Tagliabue, was born in 1972. The family was often described as a tight-knit unit, with Paul successfully balancing the intense demands of his job with his role as a husband and father.
Paul Tagliabue was a leader who believed in clear values, and this wasn’t just a professional stance—it was something he lived out in his personal life as well. In one very public demonstration of his support for his son and the LGBTQ+ community, Paul and his family once donated $50,000 to help the cause of same-sex marriage. This act revealed a man whose personal convictions aligned with his advocacy for inclusion, showing that his principles extended far beyond the football field.
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Family Ties and a Legacy Beyond Football
The Tagliabues extend into their next generation through his daughter, Emily. She married John D. “Jay” Rockefeller V, the son of former U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and Sharon Percy Rockefeller. This union brought together a legendary sports executive family with a prominent political dynasty. Emily and John have three kids together: two daughters, Laura Chandler Rockefeller (born around 2000) and Sophia Percy Rockefeller (born around 2002), and a son, John Davison Rockefeller VI (born around 2007). This meant that in his later years, Paul Tagliabue knew the joy of being a grandfather.
Even as his career soared, Tagliabue always made room for his family. After retiring as NFL commissioner in 2006, he returned to work as a lawyer but also took on roles that seemed closer to his heart, such as serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for his alma mater, Georgetown University. This balance of professional ambition and personal commitment defined his life. When his passing was announced, the heartfelt statement from current commissioner Roger Goodell highlighted not just the professional mentor Tagliabue was, but the personal one, noting how Tagliabue helped shape him “as a man, husband and father.”
Ultimately, the story of Paul Tagliabue is not only one of league expansion and television deals. It is also a story of a 60-year marriage that began in law school, of two children who built lives of their own, and of grandchildren who will carry his legacy forward. He was a man who valued family, stood by his convictions, and built a rich personal life that was every bit as significant as his towering professional achievements.
