Rozelle, Pete (1926-1996), was commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1989. During that time, Rozelle played a crucial role in the expansion of professional football into one of the most popular and profitable American sports. While Rozelle was commissioner, the NFL more than doubled the number of teams in the league. In 1977 and 1982, he negotiated the most profitable television contracts in sports history up to that time.
In 1966, Rozelle helped arrange the merger of the National and American football leagues that took effect in 1970. The merger created a new and more successful NFL and ended costly competition for players between the two leagues. The leagues’ agreement to merge led to the establishment of the Super Bowl in 1967, the annual game for the NFL championship. The Super Bowl has become perhaps the single most important sporting event in the United States.
Alvin Ray Rozelle was born in South Gate, California, on March 1, 1926. An uncle nicknamed him Pete when Rozelle was 5 years old. Rozelle was general manager of the Los Angeles Rams before NFL team owners elected him league commissioner as a compromise candidate on the 23rd ballot. Rozelle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 (see Pro Football Hall of Fame ). He retired as NFL commissioner in 1989. Rozelle died on Dec. 6, 1996.
See also Football (The rise of professional football) .
