Paul Tagliabue, the trailblazing NFL Commissioner who served in the role from 1989-2006, has died. The NFL announced Tagliabue's death on Sunday, November 9. The apparent cause of death was heart failure complicated by Parkinson's disease, according to ESPN. He was 84. Tagliabue is known for facilitating unprecedented growth in the league, including adding four expansion teams during his tenure. He also led the league through the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, as well as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that devastated New Orleans. Oscar-Nominated Actress Pauline Collins Dead at 85 After Parkinson's Battle Tagliabue took over the league in 1989, following Pete Rozelle's tenure. "Paul was the ultimate steward of the game - tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement on Sunday. "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." He continued: "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." Goodell followed Tagliabue in the role after his retirement in 2006. Paul Tagliabue Rob Kim/Getty Images for Autism Speaks Tagliabue was the architect for much of the league's immeasurable growth. According to ESPN, when he left his post more than two-thirds of the teams in the NFL were either playing in or building new stadiums that didn't exist at the start of his term. He expanded the league from 28 teams to 32, adding the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. The weekend after the 2001 attacks in New York, Tagliabue successfully postponed NFL games and is credited with inspiring other professional sports leagues to do the same. Tagliabue is also credited with keeping the Saints in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the team was considering a permanent move to San Antonio. He was also a crucial part in building a relationship between the league and its players. At the start of his time as commissioner, he made the effort to meet directly with the players to hear their views and concerns. He also started the Player Advisory Council to facilitate communication between the players and the league. There were no player lockouts during his 17 seasons as commissioner. NFL's Roger Goodell Responds to League Being Targeted in Deadly NYC Shooting Because of his impactful work with the league, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. "I'm proud and grateful to have played a small part in shaping the evolution of the National Football League in the last four decades," Tagliabue said in his Hall of Fame speech. "It's going to continue to evolve as our society evolves. But we need to remain committed both to evolution, to change and to tradition." He began his career as a lawyer for the NFL, before eventually working his way to the role of commissioner. He is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew and daughter Emily.