Month: November 2025

Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has died at the age of 84 years old. His family shared that Tagliabue passed away Sunday morning in Chevy Chase, MD., with his apparent cause of death heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease (according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.)

Tagliabue succeeded Pete Rozelle to serve as the league’s fifth commissioner from November 1989 through September 2006, preceding current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.  Of note, Tagliabue oversaw the league’s expansion from 28 to 32 teams, as well as an effort to keep the Saints in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Tagliabue was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its Centennial Class of 2020. He was formally enshrined in August 2021 and is one of four NFL commissioners/presidents to be inducted, along with Joe Carr, Bert Bell, and Rozelle.

During his Hall of Fame induction speech, Tagliabue said: “In examining what makes the NFL so compelling, I always return to the players who make the game what it is. The athletes who thrive in the competitive environment of the National Football League tend to be intensely motivated individuals with clear values and exceptional goals. … We need to respect the players for having these qualities and for what they represent as leaders in sports and in society.”

Goodell released the following statement Sunday following the announcement of Tagliabue’s passing: “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.

“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 integrity, passion and an unwavering conviction to do what was best for the league.

“Paul was the ultimate steward of the game—tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL. He viewed every challenge and opportunity through the lens of what was best for the greater good, a principle he inherited from Pete Rozelle and passed on to me.

“During his Hall of Fame NFL career, Paul fostered labor peace with our players, oversaw the expansion of the league to 32 teams, ushered in an era of state-of-the-art stadiums and laid the important groundwork of establishing the league as a global brand.

“He helped modernize the structure of the league office and its business operations, providing the playbook for the NFL’s strategic embrace of his era’s emerging technologies including cable, satellite and the internet.

“Paul was a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion and guided the league through the challenges of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

“I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father.

“Jane and I extend our heartfelt condolences to entire Tagliabue family, especially Chan, his wife of 60 years, and their children Drew and Emily.”

Tagliabue is survived by his wife, Chandler, and his two children, Drew and Emily.

Editorial credit: Nando Vidal / Shutterstock.com

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges related to a sports betting and money laundering conspiracy.

The indictment, unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, accuses the two players of manipulating game outcomes to benefit illegal bettors. Both pitchers, currently on indefinite administrative leave amid Major League Baseball’s ongoing gambling investigation, face multiple federal charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, they could each face up to 65 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Clase and Ortiz conspired with gamblers to intentionally throw specific pitches—often balls or low-speed deliveries—to enable their co-conspirators to cash in on prop bets. The scheme allegedly began with Clase in May 2023, with Ortiz joining later that summer. The DOJ says bettors using insider information from the two pitchers earned at least $450,000 in winnings from betting platforms.

In one alleged incident on June 15, prosecutors claim Ortiz was paid $5,000 for throwing an intentional ball, with Clase receiving the same amount for facilitating it. A second event on June 27 allegedly netted both pitchers $7,000. The indictment also includes photos and data showing multiple deliberate misthrows by Clase, including pitches that landed in the dirt or grass before reaching home plate.

Prosecutors say Clase communicated with bettors during games and accepted bribes to “throw specific types of pitches and speeds of pitches.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges his actions helped gamblers win up to $700,000 in total, while Ortiz’s involvement generated about $60,000 in profits for the betting ring.

Ortiz, 25, was arrested Sunday in Boston, while Clase, 27, has not yet been taken into custody. Both players’ leaves from the team, initially scheduled to end on August 31, were extended “until further notice” as the league’s investigation continued. Before being placed on leave, Clase appeared in 48 games this season, recording a 3.23 ERA and a 3.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Ortiz made 16 starts, going 4–9 with a 4.36 ERA.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement: “Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz, hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play. As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches… and they betrayed America’s pastime.”

MLB confirmed it had referred the matter to federal authorities early in its internal probe. “MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process,” the league said. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.”

The case marks the second major gambling scandal to hit U.S. professional sports this year, following an FBI investigation that led to the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.

Editorial credit: Zack Frank / Shutterstock.com