Pete Rozelle - Academy of Achievement

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Academy of Achievement</title>  <meta name="description" content="When 33-year-old Pete Rozelle was selected by team owners to serve as Commissioner of the National Football League, the NFL was a loosely organized collection of scattered franchises, many playing to half-empty stadiums, each negotiating its own television broadcasting contracts. It lagged far behind baseball in popularity, and what little cohesion the league enjoyed was threatened by the newly organized American Football League, a virtual millionaire's club with a more aggressively coherent strategy toward broadcasting and promotion. In his first years as commissioner, Rozelle secured crucial antitrust exemptions for professional football, enabling the NFL to absorb the rival league and obtain lucrative national television contracts. He introduced Monday Night Football and the instant replay, and presided over the creation of the Super Bowl, the most popular sporting event in the United States, and the most watched annual event in American television. When Rozelle took command of the NFL in 1960, franchises sold for $1 million each. When he stepped down nearly 30 years later, the league had grown from 12 to 28 teams, most valued at well over $100 million, values that have continued to escalate dizzyingly in the years since. Rozelle overcame contentious team owners, rival leagues, massive court battles, and bitter players' strikes to create the game of professional football as we know it today."/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/pete-rozelle/"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Pete Rozelle - Academy of Achievement"/> <meta property="og:description" content="<p class="inputTextFirst">When 33-year-old Pete Rozelle was selected by team owners to serve as Commissioner of the National Football League, the NFL was a loosely organized collection of scattered franchises, many playing to half-empty stadiums, each negotiating its own television broadcasting contracts. It lagged far behind baseball in popularity, and what little cohesion the league enjoyed was threatened by the newly organized American Football League, a virtual millionaire's club with a more aggressively coherent strategy toward broadcasting and promotion.</p> <p class="inputText">In his first years as commissioner, Rozelle secured crucial antitrust exemptions for professional football, enabling the NFL to absorb the rival league and obtain lucrative national television contracts. He introduced <i>Monday Night Football</i> and the instant replay, and presided over the creation of the Super Bowl, the most popular sporting event in the United States, and the most watched annual event in American television.</p> <p class="inputText">When Rozelle took command of the NFL in 1960, franchises sold for $1 million each. When he stepped down nearly 30 years later, the league had grown from 12 to 28 teams, most valued at well over $100 million, values that have continued to escalate dizzyingly in the years since. Rozelle overcame contentious team owners, rival leagues, massive court battles, and bitter players' strikes to create the game of professional football as we know it today.</p>"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/pete-rozelle/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Academy of Achievement"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-Feature-Image-2800x1120.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="2800"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1120"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="<p class="inputTextFirst">When 33-year-old Pete Rozelle was selected by team owners to serve as Commissioner of the National Football League, the NFL was a loosely organized collection of scattered franchises, many playing to half-empty stadiums, each negotiating its own television broadcasting contracts. It lagged far behind baseball in popularity, and what little cohesion the league enjoyed was threatened by the newly organized American Football League, a virtual millionaire's club with a more aggressively coherent strategy toward broadcasting and promotion.</p> <p class="inputText">In his first years as commissioner, Rozelle secured crucial antitrust exemptions for professional football, enabling the NFL to absorb the rival league and obtain lucrative national television contracts. He introduced <i>Monday Night Football</i> and the instant replay, and presided over the creation of the Super Bowl, the most popular sporting event in the United States, and the most watched annual event in American television.</p> <p class="inputText">When Rozelle took command of the NFL in 1960, franchises sold for $1 million each. When he stepped down nearly 30 years later, the league had grown from 12 to 28 teams, most valued at well over $100 million, values that have continued to escalate dizzyingly in the years since. Rozelle overcame contentious team owners, rival leagues, massive court battles, and bitter players' strikes to create the game of professional football as we know it today.</p>"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Pete Rozelle - Academy of Achievement"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-Feature-Image-2800x1120.jpg"/> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181007205110\/http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebSite","@id":"#website","url":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181007205110\/http:\/\/www.achievement.org\/","name":"Academy of Achievement","alternateName":"A museum of living history","potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181007205110\/http:\/\/www.achievement.org\/search\/{search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}</script> <script 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<div class="feature-area__text-inner text-white"> <h2 class="serif-8 feature-area__text-subhead back"><a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever">All achievers</a></h2> <h1 class="serif-1 entry-title feature-area__text-headline">Pete Rozelle</h1> <h5 class="sans-6 feature-area__blurb">Pro Football Hall of Fame</h5> </div> </figcaption> </div> </div> </figure> </header> </div>  <nav class="in-page-nav row fixedsticky"> <ul class="nav text-xs-center clearfix" role="tablist"> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link active" data-toggle="tab" href="#biography" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Biography">Biography</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#profile" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Profile">Profile</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#interview" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Interview">Interview</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#gallery" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Gallery">Gallery</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <article class="post-3064 achiever type-achiever status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry careers-football-commissioner careers-sports-executive-business"> <div class="entry-content container clearfix">  <div class="tab-content"> <div class="tab-pane fade in active" id="biography" role="tabpanel"> <section class="achiever--biography"> <div class="row"> <header class="editorial-article__header col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-xs-center"> <i class="icon-icon_bio text-brand-primary"></i> <h3 class="serif-3 quote-marks">If Jesus Christ were alive today, He would be attending the Super Bowl.</h3> </header> </div> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar clearfix"> <h2 class="serif-3 p-b-1">Inventor of the Super Bowl</h2> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Birth</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> March 1, 1926 </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Death</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> December 6, 1996 </dd> </div> </aside> <article class="editorial-article col-md-8"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Alvin Ray Rozelle was born in South Gate, California, and grew up in neighboring Lynwood, suburban communities southeast of Los Angeles. He was nicknamed “Pete” by a favorite uncle, who, like his father, encouraged his interest in sports and the outdoors. He played basketball and tennis at Compton High School and served as sports editor of his school’s paper, as well as working weekends at the <i>Long Beach Press-Telegram</i> newspaper. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to the Los Angeles area, and enrolled at Compton Junior College. The Cleveland Rams football team, newly relocated to Los Angeles, practiced at Compton, and Rozelle worked part-time for the team’s publicity department, where he caught the eye of Rams executive Tex Schramm.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_36001" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36001 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36001 lazyload" alt="" width="1280" height="1270" data-sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600.jpg 1280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600-190x190.jpg 190w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600-380x377.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600-760x754.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1959: Billy Cannon listens during a conversation between Los Angeles Rams’ coach Sid Gillman and general manager Pete Rozelle after the Rams picked Cannon as their first choice in the NFL draft in Philadelphia. (AP)</figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Rozelle transferred from Compton to the University of San Francisco, where he worked as a publicist for the college football team. As an undergraduate athletic news director, he drew national attention to the school’s victory in the 1949 collegiate basketball tournament. He remained at the university after graduation, serving as athletic news director and assistant director of the school’s sports programs. In 1952, his previous employer Tex Schramm offered him the job of publicity director for the Los Angeles Rams, and he began his life’s work of building American professional football into the country’s most popular spectator sport. After a year’s interlude with an L.A.-based public relations firm, promoting the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Rozelle returned to the Rams organization and was soon promoted to general manager. In the next three years, he demonstrated his notable flair for showmanship and spectacle and turned the struggling franchise into a highly successful enterprise.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_36020" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36020 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36020 lazyload" alt="" width="1280" height="992" data-sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600.jpg 1280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600-380x295.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600-760x589.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1956: Wellington Mara, then New York Giants secretary, and his brother, Jack Mara, Giants’ president, with George Weiss, Yankees general manager, and National Football League Commissioner Bert Bell, near a mural of Yankee Stadium in New York. Bert Bell was the NFL commissioner from 1945 until his death in 1959. (Associated Press)</figcaption></figure><p><span class="s1">When the longtime commissioner of the National Football League, Bert Bell, died suddenly in 1959, the team owners found themselves deadlocked over the choice of a replacement. After 23 ballots, they settled on a surprise choice, Pete Rozelle. At age 33, Rozelle was less well-known and less experienced than the two other candidates, and there was speculation that he had been chosen because the owners imagined that he could be easily manipulated, but this soon proved not to be the case. </span>It was assumed that the role of commissioner was to moderate disputes between owners and serve as a bureaucratic spokesman for the sport, but Rozelle embraced a larger mission: building the wealth and prestige of professional football as an industry. When he assumed the post in January 1960, there were barely a dozen teams in the league, playing poorly attended games, mostly un-televised. A few of the owners had individually negotiated broadcast rights for their teams’ games, but the franchises in smaller markets languished in unprofitable obscurity. Team owners were wary of expanding the league, fearful they would saturate the market.</p> <figure id="attachment_36031" style="width: 988px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36031 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36031 lazyload" alt="" width="988" height="1020" data-sizes="(max-width: 988px) 100vw, 988px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle.jpg 988w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle-368x380.jpg 368w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle-736x760.jpg 736w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1962: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle with George Halas Sr., owner and coach of the Chicago Bears; and Joe Donoghue, executive vice president of the Philadelphia Eagles and league assistant treasurer. (Associated Press)</figcaption></figure><p>Meanwhile, Texas multimillionaire Lamar Hunt had started a rival organization, the American Football League (AFL) and was aggressively competing for talent with the older league by bidding up players’ salaries. Rozelle succeeded in adding two franchises to the league in his first year, blocking AFL expansion in those markets, but he believed the future of the game lay in expanding its national television audience. He moved the NFL offices from Philadelphia to New York, home of the three major television networks, and began aggressively pursuing broadcast deals. The most profitable arrangement, he knew, would be to give a single network the broadcast rights to the games of the entire league, rather than allowing the larger franchises to negotiate their own deals with different networks. Rozelle’s plan faced significant regulatory hurdles, stemming from the Sherman Antitrust Act, the federal law restricting monopolies.</p> <figure id="attachment_36002" style="width: 1016px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36002 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36002 lazyload" alt="" width="1016" height="1016" data-sizes="(max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft.jpg 1016w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft-190x190.jpg 190w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft-380x380.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft-760x760.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">November 28, 1964: General view of the National Football League draft meeting in New York. Commissioner Pete Rozelle reads the picks as representatives of the various clubs make their selections. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)</figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After intensive lobbying by Rozelle, Congress enacted legislation, signed by President John F. Kennedy, permitting sports leagues to negotiate contracts directly with the broadcast networks. By 1962, Rozelle had secured a two-year contract with CBS for network broadcast of the entire NFL season, with revenues to be shared equally by all the teams. The team owners were strong-willed entrepreneurs, used to charting their own courses, but Rozelle persuaded them to embrace the revenue-sharing concept, minimizing inequalities between the teams and making the entire league more stable and more competitive.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_36013" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36013 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36013 lazyload" alt="" width="2280" height="1499" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261.jpg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261-380x250.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261-760x500.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">June 9, 1966: Pete Rozelle grins as he answers questions in New York City about merger agreement between the National and American Football leagues. Rozelle, now NFL commissioner, will be commissioner of the new league. At left is Tex Schramm, NFL President and head of the Dallas Cowboys. On the right is Lamar Hunt, founder and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and the principal founder of the American Football League (AFL). (John Duricka)</figcaption></figure><p>At the same time, Rozelle had to cope with an antitrust lawsuit brought against the league by Lamar Hunt’s AFL. The federal courts dismissed the AFL suit in 1962, but friction between the rival associations continued. Rozelle encountered controversy early in his tenure as commissioner. Rumors of players’ involvement in gambling threatened the game’s public image. Early in 1963, Rozelle suspended players Paul Hornung and Alex Karras for betting on games. Rozelle’s measures were applauded, but worse difficulties lay ahead.</p> <figure id="attachment_36102" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36102 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1963.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36102 lazyload" alt="" width="2048" height="1472" data-sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1963.jpg 2048w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1963-380x273.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1963-760x546.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1963.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Sunday, November 24, 1963: Players and fans at Cleveland Municipal Stadium pause for a moment of silence in honor of President Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas, TX two days earlier. (Henry Barr/Diamond Images) </figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">When President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Rozelle had to decide whether to proceed with the season, with only two days between the murder of the president and the next scheduled game. After consulting with White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, a friend from San Francisco college days, Rozelle elected to proceed with the games. He felt it would set a good example for a nation persevering in the face of loss, but all broadcasts were preempted for news coverage of the assassination and its aftermath, and Rozelle was subjected to harsh criticism. Nevertheless, his ability to mediate the squabbles of contentious franchise owners won him the respect of the national sports press, and he was selected as 1963 “Sportsman of the Year” by <i>Sports Illustrated</i> magazine.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_36000" style="width: 1051px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36000 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36000 lazyload" alt="" width="1051" height="1024" data-sizes="(max-width: 1051px) 100vw, 1051px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967.jpg 1051w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967-380x370.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967-760x740.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">June 7, 1967: Edward Bennett Williams (President of the Washington Redskins), Senator Everett Dirksen, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Congressman Gerald Ford, and Congressman John Byrnes. The AFL-NFL inter-league struggle of the 1960s commanded not only extensive media coverage but much of Rozelle’s attention as well. With the competitive gap becoming greater in both leagues and with several clubs on the brink of possible collapse, it became apparent that an end to the “war” was essential for both leagues. After Rozelle and owners from both sides negotiated and finally announced a merger on June 8, 1966, Pete went to Washington to get congressional approval. On October 21, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation granting a limited exemption that protected the June merger from antitrust challenge. (LBJ Presidential Library)</figcaption></figure><p class="p1">In the mid-’60s, the competition for players between the two professional football leagues intensified. After poaching the NFL’s college draft picks, the AFL began hiring players away from the older league. The bidding war spurred a drastic inflation in players’ salaries, and owners in both leagues realized the situation was potentially ruinous. <span class="s1">Rozelle undertook the most difficult challenge of his career, negotiating a merger of the two rival leagues. After reaching an agreement with the assorted team owners, Rozelle still had a significant regulatory obstacle. The television networks in particular dreaded bargaining for broadcasting rights with a single unified professional football league. In his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Rozelle assured lawmakers the merger would preserve the existing franchises and continue to generate revenue for the host cities. Congress granted professional football an exemption from the Sherman Antitrust Act.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_36016" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-36016 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-36016 size-full lazyload" width="2280" height="1484" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807.jpg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807-380x247.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807-760x495.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Football Commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1969. Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League for nearly thirty years. He is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world. Pete Rozelle invented the Super Bowl and sold the rights to the first game to two networks (NBC and CBS), which forced them to compete for viewers. With ABC Sports chief Roone Arledge, Rozelle created <em>Monday Night Football</em>.</figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A merger of the leagues was agreed to in 1966, with Pete Rozelle serving as commissioner of the combined organization, although the realignment of professional football into American and National Conferences within a single national football league was not fully completed until 1970. Rozelle also persuaded the team owners to abide by a single draft process that would allow the lowest-ranked teams the first choice of newly available college players. This raised the overall standard of play throughout the league, drawing increased attendance for all teams, and a rapidly increasing television viewership.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_35999" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-35999 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-35999 lazyload" alt="" width="2280" height="1824" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451.jpg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451-380x304.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451-760x608.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1969: Joe Namath, star quarterback for the New York Jets, with pro football Commissioner Pete Rozelle, at a news conference in New York. Namath capitulated to Rozelle’s demand that he sell his share in a New York restaurant, claiming it was frequented by undesirable characters. Namath had first announced he was quitting football, but is now free to join the Jets. (AP/Ron Frehm)</figcaption></figure><p>The 1960s were years of explosive growth for professional football, as Rozelle presided over the introduction of a post-season championship game, the Super Bowl. Although the first Super Bowl game, in January 1967, was played to a nearly half-empty stadium, Rozelle arranged for the game to be broadcast simultaneously on both NBC and CBS, forcing two networks to compete in promoting their coverage of the event. Within a few years, the annual game had become a national institution, the most-watched television event of the year. The upset victory of the New York Jets in Super Bowl III brought unprecedented publicity to professional football. As concerned as ever with the image of the game, Rozelle threatened to suspend the winning Jets quarterback, Joe Namath, if the star player did not sell his interest in a nightclub frequented by professional gamblers. Namath retired rather than face suspension, but within six weeks had returned to his team on Rozelle’s terms. With the growing popularity of televised football on Sunday afternoons, Rozelle engineered the introduction in 1970 of <i>Monday Night Football</i>, a weekly television event that has become a wintertime obsession for many Americans, and is the longest-running non-news program on prime-time television.</p> <figure id="attachment_36034" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36034 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-36034 lazyload" alt="" width="2280" height="1526" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526.jpg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526-380x254.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526-760x509.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">January 16, 1972: Pete Rozelle presents Vince Lombardi Trophy to Dallas coach Tom Landry after the Cowboys whipped Miami 24-3 to win the Super Bowl game in New Orleans. On the right is Bob Lilly, defensive tackle of the Dallas Cowboys, who was nicknamed “Mr. Cowboy” and is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  (AP)</figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In 1974, Rozelle had to deal with a preseason work stoppage by the players’ union. The dispute was resolved before the season began, but professional football’s labor troubles were far from over. For the first time since the AFL-NFL merger, Rozelle had to contend with a rival association, the start-up World Football League. The new league lasted little more than a year, but it reignited the inflation in players’ salaries that the merger had squelched. Rozelle had secured his league’s exemption for the antitrust law by assuring Congress that the teams would stay put in their respective markets, but team owners began to demand that host cities build larger and larger stadiums with more and more amenities. When cities balked, a number of owners attempted to move their franchises elsewhere.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_40413" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignright"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-40413 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago.jpg"></noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-40413 lazyload" alt="" width="660" height="895" data-sizes="(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago.jpg 660w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago-280x380.jpg 280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago-560x760.jpg 560w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Awards Council member Preston Robert Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants, presents the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award to Pete Rozelle during 1990 Achievement Summit in Chicago, Illinois.</figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Rozelle was able to prevent a number of these relocations, but he lost a bitter court case with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, who moved his team from Oakland to Los Angeles, and then back again, antagonizing fans and civic leaders in both cities. The 1980s brought another challenge to the NFL’s domination of professional football with the emergence of the United States Football League. The USFL lasted three seasons, 1983-85, notable mainly for the performances of running back <span class="s2">Herschel Walker</span>, who enjoyed a subsequent career with the NFL. Pete Rozelle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. The following year, the federal courts handed Rozelle a stunning victory. The failing U.S. Football League had filed a $1.6 billion antitrust suit against the NFL. The court awarded them exactly three dollars, and the USFL quickly disappeared. A greater threat to the NFL arose in 1987, when the players’ union struck in mid-season. After losing a week of games, Rozelle made the difficult decision to bring in replacement players, and kept the season running for another three weeks until the players and the owners came to terms. When his contract with the league expired two years later, Rozelle stepped down as commissioner. In nearly three decades at the helm, he had seen the league grow to 28 teams. Rozelle’s genius for promotion had driven a massive increase in the game’s audience, until it eclipsed the former national pastime, baseball, in popularity. Regular season football games now routinely draw larger television audiences than the playoff games of other sports.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_36017" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-36017 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-36017 size-full lazyload" width="2280" height="1437" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254.jpg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254-380x240.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254-760x479.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1985: Pete Rozelle poses with a bronze bust after induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. He was an “iron-willed tycoon who created the business model for all professional sports. He recognized that a sporting event was more than a game — it was a valuable piece of programming. Rozelle pushed sports farther into the province of TV. If the measure of business success is creation of new enterprise, then he was one of the greats.”</figcaption></figure><p class="p1"><span class="s1">For the last seven years of his life, Pete Rozelle continued to advise the NFL from his home in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He succumbed to a brain tumor at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife, Carrie, and by a daughter from a previous marriage. In his lifetime, Pete Rozelle’s contribution to the growth of the NFL went nearly unnoticed in a milieu crowded with outsized personalities, but with the passing of the years, it has become increasingly apparent that he did more than anyone to develop professional football into the powerful force in American popular culture that we know today. In 1998, Rozelle was listed as one of <em>Time</em> magazine’s “most influential business geniuses” of the 20th century, along with several other American Academy of Achievement members, including Bill Gates, Ray Kroc, Akio Morita and Stephen D. Bechtel. In 2000, <i>Time</i> magazine named him one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.</span></p></body></html> <div class="clearfix"> </div> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade" id="profile" role="tabpanel"> <section class="clearfix"> <header class="editorial-article__header"> <figure class="text-xs-center"> <img class="inductee-badge" src="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/inducted-badge@2x.png" alt="Inducted Badge" width="120" height="120"/> <figcaption class="serif-3 text-brand-primary"> Inducted in 1990 </figcaption> </figure> </header> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar"> <dl class="clearfix m-b-0"> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Career</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> <div><a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/#filter=.football-commissioner">Football Commissioner</a></div> <div><a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/#filter=.sports-executive-business">Sports Executive</a></div> </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Birth</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> March 1, 1926 </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Death</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> December 6, 1996 </dd> </div> </dl> </aside> <article class="col-md-8 editorial-article clearfix"> <p class="inputTextFirst">When 33-year-old Pete Rozelle was selected by team owners to serve as Commissioner of the National Football League, the NFL was a loosely organized collection of scattered franchises, many playing to half-empty stadiums, each negotiating its own television broadcasting contracts. It lagged far behind baseball in popularity, and what little cohesion the league enjoyed was threatened by the newly organized American Football League, a virtual millionaire’s club with a more aggressively coherent strategy toward broadcasting and promotion.</p> <p class="inputText">In his first years as commissioner, Rozelle secured crucial antitrust exemptions for professional football, enabling the NFL to absorb the rival league and obtain lucrative national television contracts. He introduced <i>Monday Night Football</i> and the instant replay, and presided over the creation of the Super Bowl, the most popular sporting event in the United States, and the most watched annual event in American television.</p> <p class="inputText">When Rozelle took command of the NFL in 1960, franchises sold for $1 million each. When he stepped down nearly 30 years later, the league had grown from 12 to 28 teams, most valued at well over $100 million, values that have continued to escalate dizzyingly in the years since. Rozelle overcame contentious team owners, rival leagues, massive court battles, and bitter players’ strikes to create the game of professional football as we know it today.</p> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade" id="interview" role="tabpanel"> <section class="clearfix"> <div class="col-md-12 interview-feature-video"> <figure> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/CofCRmhkYb8?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-Upscale-1of4.00_32_42_27.Still001-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-Upscale-1of4.00_32_42_27.Still001-760x428.jpg"></div> <div class="video-tag sans-4"> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> <div class="video-tag__text">Watch full interview</div> </div> </div> </figure> </div> <header class="col-md-12 text-xs-center m-b-2"> <i class="icon-icon_bio text-brand-primary"></i> </header> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar"> <h2 class="serif-3 achiever--biography-subtitle">Inventor of the Super Bowl</h2> <div class="sans-2">Rancho Santa Fe, California</div> <div class="sans-2">May 15, 1991</div> </aside> <article class="editorial-article col-md-8">   <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Can you describe that day in 1960 when you were chosen as Commissioner of the NFL? You weren’t the obvious candidate.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Pete Rozelle: That’s right, I wasn’t. I was with Dan Reeves, who was the majority owner of the Rams, and all of the big boys in the room during the meeting.</span></p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/lx-zAin8BNI?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_29_32_05.Still008-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_29_32_05.Still008-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>They had a long, intense discussion, and long voting procedures, trying to elect a new commissioner because Bert Bell had passed away. And we were there for ten days. And the group that the Rams were a part of were supporting — a lot — the San Francisco 49er club attorney, Marshall Leahy, who was the attorney in San Francisco, a nice man. And they kept voting for him. And then there was a bloc of three or four other clubs who would vote for anyone but Leahy. And that went on for ten days and 24 ballots. And finally, we broke for lunch, and at the end of the lunch period, Dan Reeves and — I think — Wellington Mara of the Giants, and Paul Brown of the then-Cleveland Browns, came to me and said, “We’re going to put you up, you know, nominate you for the job, and be voting.” And I said, “I’d prefer not to.” It had been so messy for ten days, and I said that was so far off. And they said, “Why don’t you just sit and be quiet, and they’ll ask you to leave the room.” So we went back in session, and I was totally shocked, because they had considered political figures, and big names and so forth and they couldn’t get agreement, partially because of the bloc wanting Marshall Leahy. So they decided to get off Leahy and go get on someone else. And so they nominated me and asked me to leave the room. And suggested I might want to go into the men’s room or something, because the newspaper men — there weren’t many in those days, now there’d be hundreds — but there were about 20 maybe, and they were all around the lobby. So when I went out, I went into the men’s room, and just stayed. Told them where I’d be. When someone came in, I would be just washing my hands, and I’d keep doing that until they left, and then I’d stop washing my hands, and dry them, and sit and wait. That went on for — I forget how long, maybe 45 minutes or an hour. Then they came in, took me back, and told me I was Commissioner of the National Football League. So I can honestly say I took the job with clean hands.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p><strong>Why did they choose you?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: You’d have to honestly say it was partially from desperation. They would be made to look somewhat foolish with this long meeting to find a replacement for Bert Bell. Miami hotel prices in those days had to have an impact on them, because the whole economy was different for football. They had been there ten days, and so I think that was a major factor — timing.</p> <figure id="attachment_36037" style="width: 1011px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-36037 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-36037 size-full lazyload" width="1011" height="1011" data-sizes="(max-width: 1011px) 100vw, 1011px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board.jpg 1011w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board-190x190.jpg 190w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board-380x380.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board-760x760.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">March 14, 1967: Pete Rozelle, professional football commissioner, in New York City as he conducts the combined National Football League (NFL) – American Football league (AFL) football player draft. (AP Photo/Jacob Harris)</figcaption></figure><p><strong>There’s been some speculation that the team owners thought they could push around a 33-year-old, and that they thought you would be no threat to them.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I don’t know what went through their minds, but I was sure happy. It was an amazing coincidence, being there at the right time.</p> <p><strong>So you didn’t have a vision of this when you were a kid? “I want to be the Commissioner of the NFL!”</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No, I wanted to be sports editor of the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>. That was my goal.</p> <p><strong>If they did assume from your inexperience that you would be a pushover, when did they learn otherwise?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, there were several incidents.</p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/NkgDmG3xpp8?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-Upscale-1of4.00_47_35_03.Still002-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-Upscale-1of4.00_47_35_03.Still002-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/integrity/">Integrity</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>You’re in a strange position, because you work for these people, and yet, it’s up to you to enforce the constitution and by-laws that they set up. So there’s discipline involved, and you have to take issue with them on some things they might want to do, and say, “Well, you can’t do that.” But they were pretty good. Most of them understood. I know that George Halas was, of course, almost the founder of the National Football League, a great Chicago Bear coach and owner. And I remember, I had to call him in, and he flew in from Chicago. Called me from the airport, and asked if we could meet out there. I said, “No, I want to see you in my office.” And he came in and we talked over whatever the problem was at the time. But he didn’t get mad. He was very supportive of me. He had respect for authority and knew they had to have a strong commissioner. Not someone who would do just what was, at the time, the thing to do, but one that would stick to their guns and do what they felt was right.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>Wasn’t there some bad blood in those years, between the teams from the large markets and the teams from the smaller markets?</strong></p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/HUcqrbtSXVo?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-Upscale-1of4.00_48_32_15.Still003-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-Upscale-1of4.00_48_32_15.Still003-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Pete Rozelle: We had a problem, because in 1960, when I became commissioner, clubs made their own television contracts, and the small market clubs did not do very well. Had a real strange set-up; you had CBS carrying the games of — I think — about eight clubs, and they paid $175,000 a year for the Giants, down to maybe $75,000 in those days for the Packers. And then you had one of the teams on the Fox sports network — Sports Network, not Fox in those days — that was a Cleveland team, and they got 175. And then Baltimore and Pittsburgh had just moved over to NBC. So it was all fractionated. The clubs were competing with themselves, and there was no chance of increasing the income. So we did press for an antitrust exemption in Congress, and strangely enough, football is subject to the antitrust laws. Baseball got an exemption way, way back, and we tried to get one ourselves. We couldn’t at that time. But we did get exemption from the standpoint of selling our television rights as a package, all the teams at one time, rather than individually. They said it would not be against the antitrust laws, so we got that through and were able then to negotiate a contract with CBS. I guess at that time we were maybe getting two-and-a-half million, all 12 clubs, in those days. Now let’s see, 30 years later they average 32,500,000 a year in the latest contract they got. So that was a big thing. The big-city market clubs — like New York, Chicago Bears, the L.A. Rams — agreed to share the television money equally with the smaller markets, like the Green Bay Packers, 75,000 in the community. And Pittsburgh was not a big city in those days. That really was a thing that was most important to the league, because it made all of them compete for players, and compete with strong organizations equally.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>It also had a tremendous impact on the way the public viewed football. It equalized it.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Pete Rozelle: Also, we packaged them all on the same network. Later we used several networks, but all in a package. It increased the promotion for the league. That was a big factor too.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>It had an impact in equalizing the teams, too, didn’t it?</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Pete Rozelle: The whole thing was equalizing the competition on the field. The sharing of income gave everyone the tools, the money, to compete equally. Now some didn’t, but management and coaching and so forth being the big difference, and players, they had the opportunity, at least, to compete equally. That was a very important thing, rather than one small market being down forever.</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2"><b>At the time that this all was taking place, there was no such thing as the Super Bowl. Football was not nearly the obsession with the general public that it is today.</b></span></p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/rcecnuIKNJ0?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_27_18_05.Still010-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_27_18_05.Still010-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/vision/">Vision</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Pete Rozelle: We were fortunate to take advantage of it, because in the early ’60s, we were the first sport to set up our own merchandising promotion company, NFL Properties, and our own film company, NFL Films. They had their own offices in New Jersey, and they filmed every game, and used those for shows, and sent them overseas for showings overseas, and did a great deal to popularize the National Football League.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Television itself was fairly young back in 1960.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Pete Rozelle: It was. As a matter of fact, I can remember in the late ’50s and early ’60s, the first talk of cable television. They called it “community antennae television” in those days. It was to service the mountainous areas, say, of Pennsylvania, that couldn’t get reception of regular television. So they would set up a cable system for handling that. There were no cable channels, it was just to give them a chance to watch television. Of course, that developed quite a bit over the next 30 years.</span></p> <p><strong>The success of football during your tenure now seems very smooth and rapid. Back then, in 1960, ’61, when you were fighting these initial battles, did you have a vision of what this was going to become?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: We really didn’t at that time.</p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/J_uym23xYBE?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_21_57_11.Still011-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_21_57_11.Still011-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p class="p1">We were in competition with the American Football League, and that lasted until 1966.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then I think the owners on both sides realized that something would have to be done, or the weaker clubs in both leagues might eventually fail.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So we quietly arranged a merger, and got a bill through Congress permitting the merger as being not against the monopoly laws. That was really the turning point.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Set up the Super Bowl, and so forth, where the winner of each of those two — they became conferences in the National Football League — the American Football League and the National Football League merged, and that created two different conferences, and then the winning teams met in the Super Bowl.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p><strong>There is a certain irony, because the AFL was always interested in some kind of inter-league play, but you refused for a number of years. Is that because you wanted it on your own terms?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, there was a great rivalry, as an example, for football players. For seniors coming out of college. That was our first big escalation of salaries. The owners were getting a little more from television and the players started being paid a great deal more. There was intense competition, and the National League owners didn’t want to help the American Football League achieve an inch in that way. They wanted to downplay them. So that’s why it wasn’t done until after the merger.</p> <p><strong>That sounds very polite, but you took a lot of heat for it at the time.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think the press took both sides of the argument. They weren’t friendly to the National Football League, while they fully understood and were friendly to the American Football League. They sniped at the NFL.</p> <figure id="attachment_36014" style="width: 3000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-36014 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-36014 size-full lazyload" width="3000" height="2400" data-sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145.jpg 3000w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145-380x304.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145-760x608.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1966: The NFL holds a press conference to announce that the NFL and AFL plan to merge in an expanded major professional football league. Pete Rozelle, named commissioner of the newly merged NFL, is center. At left is Tex Schramm, President of the NFL Dallas Cowboys. Lamar Hunt, President of the AFL Kansas City Chiefs, is right. (AP)</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Over the years, in that very high profile position, you were discussed in the press on a daily basis. How did you handle the criticism that was directed at you?</strong></p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajAipEbs_Bk?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_20_44_20.Still004-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_20_44_20.Still004-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p class="p1">Pete Rozelle: Our teams were traveling at the time of President Kennedy’s assassination. I remember trying to get Pierre Salinger, who was President Kennedy’s press secretary.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was traveling down with some cabinet members to Tokyo.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I tried to reach him, and he finally called me back from Hawaii on the way back.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And I asked him what could we do on this.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We didn’t know when services were going to be, we don’t know the day of mourning, and so forth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was on a Friday afternoon. So he told me that he thought I should go ahead and follow the team’s schedule, play the games.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was my decision.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I did check with Pierre, and off the top of his head, he thought maybe we should play the games. I think it was a mistake, because it was such a horrendous thing, with follow-up on Lee Harvey Oswald, and so forth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It absorbed the nation and put them in a deep state of mourning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We had teams that had gone to different cities, ready for a game on Sunday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So we did play the games that Sunday. I think it was a serious public relations mistake.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think it would have been much better if we hadn’t, of course.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was criticized intensely for that.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><figure id="attachment_36036" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-36036 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy.jpeg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-36036 size-full lazyload" width="2280" height="1503" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy.jpeg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy-380x251.jpeg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy-760x501.jpeg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy.jpeg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Pete Rozelle successfully lobbied in Washington for a limited antitrust exemption to allow the NFL to negotiate a network television contract as a single enterprise. On September 30, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the sports legislation bill into law which gave leagues the ability to bundle into one business package and sell that package to TV networks. On Friday, November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through downtown Dallas. While the rest of the nation essentially shut down to mourn — the AFL canceled its weekend games — the NFL played on. Years later, Rozelle said the decision to play the games on the weekend of the Friday assassination — which were not broadcast on television — was his biggest regret as NFL commissioner.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Wasn’t there an element of wanting to show that life goes on?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Some felt that way. In retrospect, I certainly think it would have been much better from a public relations viewpoint not to have played the games, because I did respect President Kennedy a great deal. I had met him through Pierre. I was close to the family even afterwards. I played in Ethel’s celebrity tennis tournament each year for about eight or ten years, and that was a lot of fun.</p> <p><strong>Almost immediately after you became commissioner, you started expanding the NFL. What was the importance of that?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: We were starting to develop strong interest, the NFL was. We had to get into some top markets to really develop this interest in the way of television and so forth, big. There were some cities I felt were very well set up to handle a team. So we did expand to Dallas and Minneapolis. They called it the Minnesota Vikings. We did that in 1960, at that meeting when I was elected commissioner. So we added two then, making 14. Then we expanded later on, we merged, presently up to 28.</p> <p><strong>Did you have a vision, when you took the job, that there would be many more teams?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes, very much so.</p> <p><strong>That was a pretty daring move. It cost a lot of money to support these teams.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, it was just starting to turn the corner, I felt, where it could be done without diluting the count or the money from television, and so forth.</p> <p><strong>The 1962 betting scandal was another very important crisis in your early years as commissioner. You took a very hard line. How did you make those difficult decisions back then?</strong></p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/kGyZbp4Auc0?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_39_56_19.Still005-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_39_56_19.Still005-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/keys-to-success/integrity/">Integrity</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Pete Rozelle: There were reports that some players had been betting on games. It was never established they ever bet against their own team. But in the final analysis, I developed enough information through investigation that — the big one was Paul Hornung, who was a great star with the Green Bay Packers, and Vince Lombardi was his coach. I remember when I called Vinnie and asked him to come in to see me. So he flew into New York. He was a remarkable man. Paul was the star of his championship team, and I laid out the information that we had about Paul, what Paul had been doing. And again, never betting against the Packers, but betting on football. Vince looked at it, he said, “Well, you have no choice, do you?” I said, “I don’t think so, Vinnie. Let’s go get a drink.” He really handled it like a man. Because coaches have an inordinate interest in their football players, and he wanted that talent on the field, and they will argue almost on any case, saying, “Well, you should let him play.” But Vince was outstanding in that way. He, the man in authority — from respect for his authority with the players, with everyone in the Green Bay organization — but he also gave authority to the commissioner.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body><p><strong>Weren’t there a lot of people who thought you were too hard on those players?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes. It’s like anything else. Some felt it was proper, some improper, so you have to take the praise with the criticism.</p> <p><strong>It seems that you have a very strong sense of integrity, and that you’re very protective of the sport, and this was a very early example.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: That’s why I did feel strongly about it. Because it’s the league that counts, and it’s the public perception of the league, and reputation and character. The character of the league had to remain strong for the reputation to be good.</p> <figure id="attachment_36018" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-36018 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1.jpg"></noscript><img class="wp-image-36018 size-full lazyload" width="2280" height="1776" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1.jpg 2280w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1-380x296.jpg 380w, /web/20181007205110im_/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1-760x592.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1.jpg"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">1967: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle hands the victory trophy to Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi following Super Bowl I, a 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles, California.</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Huge sums of money have become a regular part of professional football. Does that make it even more important to retain that sense of integrity?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: The commissioner’s role is really to protect the sport from inside, on behalf of the owners, players and coaches — and future owners, players and coaches. And the general public. Fortunately, the NFL has been strong. As an example, in 1960, we sold those two expansion franchises, Dallas and Minneapolis, for $600,000 a piece. That’s how much they paid to get in the NFL and be stocked with players from the other teams. Now, in the most recent sale I know of, my friend Bob Tisch, he bought 50 percent of the New York Giants for 75 million dollars — for half interest in the club. So I think the league is healthy, and the perception of the league is healthy, which is the main thing.</p> <p><strong>Back to the evolution of the Super Bowl. Did you have any idea what the Super Bowl would become when you first anticipated the conferences getting together?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No. Particularly after the first game, because we didn’t sell out.</p></body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181007205110if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/WGaQ19f-2PM?feature=oembed&autohide=1&hd=1&color=white&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_36_52_22.Still009-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rozelle-Pete-1991-MasterEdit.00_36_52_22.Still009-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p class="p1">We expected so much, with all the publicity that had been generated during the two leagues’ rivalries.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But after merging, and we set up the Super Bowl championship game, with the participants being from the AFL and the NFL, we played in Los Angeles and the stadium was only two-thirds filled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think the top price was $12, or something.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And I was shocked. But that was the last game we had without a sell-out. The only game without a sell-out.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>Now I guess more people watch the Super Bowl than go to church on a given Super Bowl Sunday.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It’s awfully heavy. There are a lot of funny stories about it, with ministers having television sets in their study, and bringing their favorite parishioners in after services to watch the Super Bowl game and having a lot of fun.</p> <p><strong>How soon did it became a real phenomenon?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, I think the next year we sold out, and I think the key one was the third game. It was the first one that the AFL won. That was the New York Jets. They butchered the NFL team. Everyone knew it was going to be very competitive, and either league could win. It was up all the way after that.</p> <p><strong>What are your recollections of that exciting game?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, (Joe) Namath was a very glamorous figure. He was very mild by today’s standards, of say, Madonna, but he was an entertainer. He had great confidence in himself, as he had a right to. Before the game, I know, he went to some sports function in Miami, a couple of days before the game. He was drinking a scotch and water, and he says, “I assure you, we will beat the Baltimore Colts,” and everyone took it as bravado. You know, he’s a boastful guy. And he delivered. That was the difference. He was a very popular figure in New York and throughout the country. He delivered with that first AFL win over an NFL team.</p> <p><strong>That must have been a particularly exciting day for you. Was it?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It was.</p> </div>    <aside class="collapse" id="full-interview">    <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>When you were growing up, did you have a clear vision of the things you wanted to accomplish?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No, not really. I just knew I was intensely interested in sports. My father and his brothers were very active in sports, and I went to a lot of games as a young kid, and always followed it. I played basketball and tennis in junior high school and high school. I don’t think I could make a grammar school team today, with some of the games I’ve seen. But I played basketball at Compton High School in California, and one of my teammates was Dick Siebert, the great Dodger outfielder, a good friend of mine.</p> <p><strong>Did you stay in touch all these years?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: He lives right near here in Fallbrook, so we do keep in touch.</p> <p><strong>When do you recall you were first attracted to the idea of a professional career in sports?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, I was sports editor of the school paper. And then I did work as an athletic and news director at the junior college, and later on at the University of San Francisco as an undergraduate. I knew then I wanted to be involved in sports, and I guess my dream was to become sports editor of the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>.</p> <p><strong>It sounds like you were very motivated to work from an early age. What made you take a job in high school? What inspired you?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It was basically writing. I loved watching sports and writing about them. So I was sports editor of the school paper and I worked weekends at the <em>Long Beach Press Telegram</em>, near my home in southern California. Just primarily an interest in sports, then from that developed the athletic publicity work that I did in school.</p> <p><strong>It sounds like that served you in very good stead.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It did. In 1952, I was still at the University of San Francisco, a couple of years after I graduated, and was athletic news director and assistant athletic director. And the Los Angeles Rams got in touch with me. I had done their game programs back when they first got to Los Angeles, when they had moved from Cleveland in 1946. So I was vaguely familiar with some of the people in the organization. But they called me and I was invited down to ask if I’d like to be the publicity director of the Rams. And I was just shocked! That was a dream come true. Dan Reeves was the president and Tex Schramm was the general manager. I remember I wanted to see Tex, and I was so happy for the offer of the job. So we started talking money, and he said that he would offer $5,500 and I wanted six. But I readily accepted the 5,500.</p> <p><strong>You recognized that was a big break.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Sure. At that point, I think I had achieved my original goal of being sports editor of the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>, because I was publicity director of the Rams right in my home area, right where I grew up, and it was wonderful.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned that you played sports when you were younger. Did you ever consider becoming a pro player?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No, I wasn’t at that level. I certainly didn’t. But it was fun and I really enjoyed that.</p> <p><strong>Do you think it’s important for kids, even if they’re very serious academically, to get involved in sports?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, I think that the broader base you have as a person, the better off you are. In other words, sports, or music, or any other form of avocation.</p> <p><strong>In interviewing some of our honorees, we’ve found that a lot of these Nobel Prize-winning scientists and heart surgeons were very active in sports.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I’ve met a lot of them over the years, including presidents like Dick Nixon, who grew up in Whittier, right near where my home was in Southern California. He was a red-hot football fan. Liked all sports, but football in particular. I know one time I was visiting Congress, and talking to some committee, lobbying for something or another while he was President. Then I went over to the White House to see Herb Klein, who was Nixon’s press secretary, and he is now here in San Diego, assistant to the publisher of the Copley Papers. Herb said, “The President is flying down to Florida this afternoon, where you’re going.” I was going down to Miami. And he said, “Would you like to fly down with him on Air Force One?” I said, “Sure! I’ve got my bags right here.” I was on my way to the airport to catch a flight anyway. So I flew down with him.</p> <p><strong>Did you talk about football?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I didn’t get a chance to talk with him on the plane because he was closeted with his people.</p> <p><strong>Do you recall your earliest exposure to sports as a young kid? Do you remember what first turned you on?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, it was right from the beginning, because of my father’s and my uncles’ interest in sports. We’d go camping, fishing, outdoor life. I was primarily interested in basketball when I was very young. I played in junior high school and high school, and later on I took tennis. But I liked basketball very much. I was short then, and very slender in those days. But as I say, I’d hate to see a video of my performances now, because I don’t think I couldn’t make a grammar school team, kids play so well today.</p> <p><strong>We read in a <em>New York Times</em> article that a counselor at summer camp said something memorable to you about building character and reputation. Do you remember?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It was a very simple thing. It was a church camp, I think. I was there about two or three days, very young, and I just remember some counselor telling us that reputation is what people think you are, and your character is what you are. So if you have a bad reputation, you might as well have a bad character, and it pays to have a good reputation and a good character.</p> <p><strong>So it really matters how other people perceive you?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Right. Absolutely. That stuck with me. I believe in it.</p> <p><strong>Was there anyone who particularly inspired you as a young person?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: My dad certainly, and coaches I had that I was very close to. They took a big part in my developing an interest in sports, actually. One has passed away I was very close to. His name was Bill Slybaum. He was my coach in junior high school for tennis and then he moved up the ladder academically and went to the high school about the time I got there. He was my high school coach in basketball. I became very close to him. Later on, when I came back after the service, I went to Compton Junior College near Los Angeles, and he was the junior college basketball coach. I was very close to him. I remember, I was doing publicity work for the school — I was an undergraduate at junior college — and he scheduled a series of games in Utah. So we drove — we didn’t have a big budget at that time — and I was with the players, and filing reports back with the school paper and the Long Beach paper and so forth. And we had two games in a short period of time, so they suited me up and let me play in one of them. I hadn’t played since high school, but it was fun.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned your father, and we gather that he was an inspiration personally. What was he like?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, he was at the time, and even more so later. Because he did so much with what he had. He never went to college more or less because of the Depression. My dad had a great influence on me, particularly later, because I was so impressed with what he did with his life. He grew up during the Depression, and when he and Mother were married, he managed market stores. And I can remember when I was very young, we had an earthquake — 1932 — and he was the store manager. I can remember distinctly he would come home with what he called earthquake soap. Everything was shattered on the floor in the market, and so he swept up the Rinso with the Oxydol and so forth and he brought the soap home, and he was selling it at the store as Earthquake Soap. He later worked for the Aluminum Company of America. He went to work with Alcoa in Southern California at the outbreak of the war, and worked there the rest of his life in the shipping department. But he and mother built a very fine middle class home when my brother and I were very young, and right near a school. They did a great job with what they had.</p> <p><strong>You’ve said that he was a patient man.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Very patient. Patient with my brother and myself. I think I’m a lot like him, in manner and so forth. I can sort of detect it today. I learned a lot.</p> <p><strong>That patience must have come in very handy in your dealings with team owners in the NFL.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes.</p> <p><strong>Were your parents supportive of your career choice?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, very much so. All the time I was working and going to school, they were very happy to see me doing sports writing on the weekends, and so forth, for papers. And then when I became athletic publicity director at the university, well, they thought that was great. They were always very supportive of me.</p> <p><strong>Were you very motivated academically at school?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Sports was really my life. I got good grades. I got mostly As and some Bs all through school, but I really crashed to get them. I didn’t stay up with my studies as I should have to really learn. I’d cram for a test and get an A or a B. My interest was in my avocation, which later became my vocation, of course.</p> <p><strong>How did your parents react when you became nationally prominent?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, they were just out of their minds, they were so happy when their kid became Commissioner of the National Football League. They thought that was wonderful.</p> <p><strong>In general, did you get along well with classmates? You’re known as such a good negotiator.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes, I had many good friends in school that I still see, from junior high school through, say, 1939 and ’40. A number of them will go to the Super Bowl game with me every year and I’m still close to them.</p> <p><strong>It sounds like you’ve always been kind of a people person.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I enjoy people a great deal, and I’ve had many good friends. I’m very fortunate in that respect.</p> <p><strong>You met some interesting people along the way. Pierre Salinger for one.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes, that was something. When I was at the University of San Francisco, he was taking his final classes there, and he was working at the <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em> at the same time. So I’ve known Pierre ever since then. Ever since about 1950, I guess.</p> <p><strong>And then he began to be involved in ABC?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, the first big thing he became was President Kennedy’s press secretary in 1960, and that was the same year I became Commissioner of the National Football League. So we both went east then, and kept up with each other.</p> <p><strong>Did his television contacts play any role in your vision of an expanded TV presence for the NFL?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Not really. We knew many of the same people in that field, of course. But it had no bearing, particularly, on that.</p> <p><strong>Looking back, how much of a role would you say that luck has had in your success?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: An ungodly amount. So much of timing and luck was involved. When I look back, I think if things just hadn’t worked out as they did on every occasion, I’d have never gotten where I did. I was very, very fortunate.</p> <p>When I came back from the war, in 1946, I knew all the people at the Junior College, and I was able to become their athletic news director. I think I got about — I don’t know — $50 a month, but a lot of experience. And then again, through people I knew, I was invited to be the University of San Francisco news director. So I went up there, and worked there during the final two years of college and my first two years after college. That was a great experience. We were lucky, because they had a couple of very hot teams. The 1951 football team was unbeaten, untied, and they sent three people: Ollie Matson, a fullback; and Gino Marchetti, the great defensive lineman of Baltimore; and Bob St. Clair, offensive tackle (for the) 49ers. All were from that team. Plus myself, being their publicity man. We all ended up in the Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So that exposure — and also Pete Newell, the basketball coach at USF, was a great friend of mine. They won the National Invitational Tournament in 1949. So because I was the publicity man, I met a lot of people. Newspaper people would ask me about the team and so forth, and I got to know them quite well, because of the success of the team. That led to the Ram job. Because when the Rams were looking around for a publicity director in 1952, they called a number of newspaper people, and some of them recommended me because I had dealt with them. That was a very fortuitous event. The next big step after the Rams publicity job — I actually left the Rams, went with a small public relations firm in San Francisco for two years, 1955 and ’56. During that period, a difficulty between the owners of the Rams surfaced, and they weren’t getting along, and so they decided to go into the hands of that commissioner, Bert Bell, (with) the job of recommending a general manager. And because I had been there as publicity manager, why, I was considered, and I got my own people while I was there. So they made me general manager of the Rams. And so that was, again, the ultimate for me.</p> <p><strong>What did Bert Bell see in you that made you seem like such an attractive candidate for this important job?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I don’t think he knew me that well then. I hadn’t seen him at that time. But I guess he talked to people. I know the president of the Rams, Dan Reeves, recommended me. And he probably also talked to some newspaper people and so forth, and people in the National Football League I had worked with when I was publicity director. It was very nice. He had a gravelly voice, and he called me on the phone. As I say, I was with the little PR firm in San Francisco then, and he said, “Well,” he says, “We checked around, and you are the first thing the Ram owners have agreed upon since Garfield was shot. So…” he says, “Do you want to take the job?” And I said, “We can sure talk about it.” It was about double the money I was making then. So I would say I was flattered, and took it.</p> <p><strong>Why did you leave the Rams to go to the PR firm?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I thought it was probably the right thing to do, because sports was involved in that account indirectly, because they had an Australian Airline, Qantas. It was the time of the Olympic Games in Australia, so some sports was involved. I thought then it was an opportunity to broaden myself, learn more about general public relations. I thought I might go that route rather than stay in sports at that time.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned that there was trouble with the Rams owners. Were your skills at negotiating already apparent?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I got along with them well enough to get the job. So that was very good timing on my part.</p> <p><strong>A lot of people have good minds and good potential. Why would you say that you’ve succeeded in your field, when so many others haven’t?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Timing and luck would be one thing certainly, as I mentioned earlier. I can be patient, which I think is probably a very fortunate trait to have on a job as commissioner, where you have to get along with so many different constituencies: the owners, the press, the fans, the coaches. There are so many people involved in the strange nature that constitutes a sports league. I think that was very fortunate. I think that if you’re high strung, and flare, you could have problems, and I was fortunate that I didn’t. Also, I think that you have to spend a lot of time, and you have to think about things that lead to better the sport — changes, innovations, progress — and I always felt that very strongly. We were fortunate that some of the things we developed played a big part in the development of the league.</p> <p><strong>In the interviews with sports figures that we’ve done, the element of preparation keeps coming up as key to any kind of achievement. Has that been true in your career as well?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes, it’s very important. Whether you’re conducting a league meeting, you want to study up on all the issues and the potential pluses and minuses, and be prepared for anything that might come up. Your dealings with Congress, congressional hearings and so forth, litigation, press conferences. My staff would brief me, of course, prior to the big press conference I have every year at the Super Bowl. And the preparation is always a big factor.</p> <p><strong>Are you the kind of person who doesn’t go into a meeting like that unless you’re prepared?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: You try not to, certainly.</p> <p><strong>That also implies a strong sense of responsibility.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: You have to have that when you’re in a position of authority.</p> <p><strong>Where does that come from, that sense of duty and responsibility?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I guess my upbringing. My parents. As I say, I was very fortunate in having a great home life, and parents that cared about my brother and myself, relatives. It just came about through my growing up.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned that preparation is very important. When you’re away from work, are you still thinking about it?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Because of my love for sports, and the nature of my job, it was pretty intense for 30 years, and you have to be sure. I would take it home. My wife would know when things were tight, and she would hear me get up in the night, and walk around and sit and think. It’s not something you can leave at the office.</p> <p><strong>It must have been very hard work, but it sounds like it was also pleasurable.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, very much so. I can’t imagine a job that would be more fun for someone who likes football. And I do, and it was a tremendous experience, particularly to have so long at it. I got the job when I was young, only 33 years old, so I lasted 30 years.</p> <p><strong>We’ve been interviewing people in a lot of fields — scientists, explorers, archaeologists — and they all say it’s very important to be a team player. But in your position, it seems like it’s important to be your own person as well.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It’s sort of a combination, I think. Because, you solo in some respects, as commissioner. But you have to try and get, as best you can, all elements working as a team of the league to be successful — the players, the coaches, the owners, And try to get the fans on the side of all of them. So it’s a combination really. You are out there alone in many respects, but you try to create a team effort, just as in a game.</p> <p><strong>You were put in a position of tremendous power in the world of football, with many crucial decisions to make. How did you make those decisions. Did you follow your gut?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think to a certain respect, yes. But also, you try to follow the best guidelines you have, the constitutional by-laws. You have to interpret them from time to time, but in the final analysis, in some instances, it would be a gut reaction. But a gut based on preparation and study. Not just a fly-by-night gut reaction.</p> <p><strong>It doesn’t sound like you did things impulsively.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I try not to. I think it’s best to take all the time you can. You don’t want to dilly-dally around for months, but you should take all the time you have and consider all aspects before you make a major decision.</p> <p><strong>Professional athletes are such inspiring figures for kids, there’s a tremendous identification. Why do you suppose athletes provide such an attractive role model?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, they did for me growing up. I followed sports so closely. I just thought that athletes were tremendous. I watched their games — we didn’t have a television in those days, but I’d go to them. And if you liked sports, well then, outstanding athletes just became a natural role model for you. And you did not know much about them in those days. That’s why I get very concerned when you have these instances that happen in sports, involving drugs, alcohol abuse by a player. Other incidents. Why, it’s tough when you’re supposed to be the guardian of the sport. You’re repulsed by that, you know, you hate it. But people are people, and you just do the best you can and try to quiet that aspect.</p> <p><strong>What do you mean when you say you’re repulsed?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It’s something that always concerns me. You have drug or alcohol incidents, or assaults in bars, driving while intoxicated. If your neighbor does it, it’s not going to hit the papers, most times. When an athlete does it, it’s all over the front pages. It’s one thing that always bothered me. We try as best we can to get across to the players that it’s in the best interest of the young people of this country — and in their own, for their own image — to avoid such things. But you can’t control everything a person does. All we could do is live with it and try to counsel against it.</p> <p><strong>You made some unpopular decisions regarding drug testing in your later years. Could you tell us about that?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think it’s probably a natural, adversarial position between a commissioner in any sport and their players association, or union. I was very concerned about this problem. I wanted to be sure that we were clean, so I set up a testing program. Their union took it to arbitration, and got it softened a great deal. So now I will be criticized in the future for drug incidents, yet I was unable to execute a testing program that could stop it.</p> <p><strong>It’s a pervasive problem in our society, not just for athletes, but athletes seem to be particularly tempted.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I personally feel that drugs constitute the biggest major problem we have in this country, forgetting sports, because drugs create the medical problems that cause the increase in all our medical costs. They contribute to the homeless, that’s a big problem many people see today, and a lot of that stems from drugs. So I feel very, very uptight about it, and I wanted to do as much as I could. Unfortunately, during the period that I attempted to develop a stronger program, why, the players protested, and they felt that should be individual rights and so forth, and they wanted to slow it down. And they were able to get an arbitrator to rule that there was only so many things you could do. But I think that most of the players feel the same way. I think that they know they want to be clean, want their teammates to be clean, want the sport to be clean. And a lot of them have a very strong feeling about their image as a football player. Hopefully then, some day we will be able to do something about that.</p> <p><strong>What is the great attraction of steroids for athletes today?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think it probably stemmed from weight lifting. They saw that some athletes could be helped with some workout, people could be helped with steroids. This spread over into other sports, particularly football.</p> <p><strong>How prevalent is it, do you think, among football players?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, that’s one thing that we could — and we are today testing more frequently for. Because that can really be dangerous. So they were able to post penalties, putting them on suspension. I personally feel that the NFL — I would think that they are pretty clean because of the testing.</p> <p><strong>Another evolution during your tenure as commissioner was the tremendous increase in salaries to the players. Some of the public kind of grumbles about how much the players are earning. How do you feel about those inflated salaries?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, there has been such a tremendous change, fueled by the gate, but primarily from television and what the owners make. The players have done a good job of getting a lot of it.</p> <p>I remember when I was General Manager of the Rams in 1957, they had already drafted selected senior players. And the Rams’ first draft choice was an end from USC. I went out to see him, and he was working in a little studio out in the Valley, and I talked to him and gave him my charm, and so forth, and offered him what, at that time, was about par for the first draft choice — $7,500 and a $2,500 bonus. And I was just shocked that my charm didn’t sway him. But I figured that, “Well, he will eventually,” and I got back to him on the phone. He never did play football. I found out he was married to Walt Disney’s daughter. His name was Ron Miller; he became head of Disney Studio. So the Rams didn’t give me a very good pick. But they get tremendous sums, and they are deserving of them as long as the league is developing the money to pay it. They’re deserving a lot of money, because they deliver.</p> <p><strong>It’s an odd career in a lot of ways, because it’s so short-lived. It’s really fast and furious.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes, and for the smart ones, it works out well. But for those that aren’t too smart, go through the money quickly, and only have a career of five or six years, well then all they have is their pension. If they’re not equipped to go into the market place and find something other than being a football player, they don’t have a very nice life. It’s too bad. The smart ones do very well, obviously. They capitalize on their football name and get involved even while they’re playing football. Get involved with some company, various companies, endorsements and so forth. It builds a foundation for when they quit, or are through, or retire rather. But some obviously do not. Most unfortunate.</p> <p><strong>It’s a particularly short career, football. Isn’t it?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: But a good one, barring injury. That’s the key thing, injury. But if they’re outstanding football players, they can have a career of eight or ten years or more. But they always have injury as a possibility, and the wear and tear and so forth. So the average is obviously much less than that.</p> <p><strong>If you were talking to somebody from Mars who never had seen a football game, how would you describe why it’s so exciting to adult humans, both male and female?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Very interesting. I had that test one day, in the ’60s. I was in the Navy during World War II, out in the Pacific on a tanker, and take that into account. But in the ’60s, we have a visitor to this country. Came to New York and came to the New York Jets game. Hirohito! And to me, it was so incredible, thinking of my background, and having been out there, and the way everything was during the war, and I was sitting with my family behind bullet-proof glass, covered, watching the game from a box.</p> <p><strong>And you had fought his troops in the Second World War!</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Sure. And it was just so — you know, what sports can do. It’s just weird! Too much for my mind. So I attempted to explain the game through an interpreter as best I could, just as you suggested. I did the best I could, but I don’t know if it was very good though. A funny thing, we had our stepson with us at the game. He was about six or seven. A couple months after the game, Mrs. Rozelle went to a PTA or some school function and his teacher showed her the work. She had told the kids that weekend, right after that weekend of the game, to write what they did on the weekend. Of course it was very terse, and all the little sentences and so forth. So the teacher said, “Robby has really got a very creative imagination, very vivid.” And Carrie said, “How’s that?” So she showed Robby’s paper. He wrote, “I went to a football game and ate a hot dog, and sat with the Emperor.” And the teacher said, “Obviously all fanciful,” but Mrs. Rozelle said, “No, it wasn’t.”</p> <p><strong>What is it that’s so exciting about football? Why do millions and millions of Americans stay glued to their sets Sundays and Mondays?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think just pure excitement. The passing. The tremendous comebacks. Obviously, the physical contact. It’s just a great game that was created by, I guess, Walter Campbell, and it gives so much excitement and color to sports, and is just fascinating to watch.</p> <p><strong>There’s a sense of evenly matched forces on the football field.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: That’s a big thing in any sport, if you can create that. You never can have perfection of that. It wasn’t good for baseball, for example, years ago when the New York Yankees won virtually every year. I think baseball probably suffered during that period. You can’t have a close race every year. But at least when — well, like the Packers in the early ’60s. They were a small community, and they hadn’t done much for many, many years. Always an also-ran. And then Vince Lombardi got there and they won championships. That was a great thing to see. That gave hope to the fans in other cities. “Our team can do that now. You’ve seen it with Green Bay.”</p> <p><strong>There was kind of a backlash, wasn’t there? You were so big on promoting equality of the small markets and the large markets, and then after that you were criticized for making all the teams too much alike.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I remember that. But, you know, if you look in the stands, you’ll see that what I said was true. One of the happiest presentations I ever made was when the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl. Art Rooney got into football about 1930 or so, one of the early pioneers of the NFL, and so beloved by everyone — players, coaches, the other owners — a tremendous man. It was really a thrill for me to give him the trophy. I didn’t know he was going to get greedy and win three more! They did have a mini-dynasty during that period. But you always have different teams. The big teams, in New York, who won the last one, of course. But they will vary. You will have the small teams like Green Bay or Pittsburgh also rising up to win.</p> <p><strong>So there is hope. There is always hope.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Right.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned Joe Namath and the upset victory in Super Bowl III. What are some of the most exciting plays that you remember? Are there a couple that stand out?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, there are so many, so many. Probably the most exciting would be the plays at the end of the game that win it for one team or the other, when they come from behind with a blocked field goal, or a long touchdown pass. There are so many of those, it would be hard to characterize one in particular. But that type of game would really interest me, and the play that would be a part of it would be a significant play to remember.</p> <p><strong>Perhaps that’s what makes the game so exciting for such a broad range of people, that sense that anything can happen.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think that’s part of it. When you become part of a crowd of 60, 70, 80,000 people, you are swept up with the emotion that other people feel. You feed off that emotion. Like the wave they have in some stadiums, that we all see. And you become part of the synergism of the big crowd. And I think a lot of women who don’t know football too well, but they get excited at a football game because of this feeling you take from a big crowd — the excitement that everyone feels.</p> <p><strong>Do you think there’s also a sense that you kind of get out of your own personal troubles, and your day-to-day routine, whatever your headaches are at work, and you become part of something bigger?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think that’s a big thing that sports does. Not just football, but baseball, basketball, hockey. There is a great escapism. People watch with sheer entertainment, and they know that the athletes are going to do their best, play very hard, and be exciting. I think everyone needs an outlet, and fortunately, in our case, a large part of that public, they find that in football. Escapism. Escape from the day-to-day routine and become a part of something that others enjoy, and are screaming and excited about.</p> <p><strong>There is a sense of justice, too. Of rules being followed, and people doing what they’re supposed to do.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: That’s right.</p> <p><strong>Do you think people are attracted to that?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think so, because they scream so much on a close call. They get all down on the referee or the umpire, or whatever, because they know that there are certain rules, and they feel that he has misinterpreted what happened on that play, and they do feel a sense of injustice when that occurs.</p> <p><strong>Of all the great achievements in your three decades as commissioner, what are you most proud of?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I have never really studied them very much. I think that I was proud of — not just what I did — but my staff played obviously a major part, did in popularizing the sport, with the early promotional activities of NFL Properties, merchandising, NFL Films, all the work that we put on the Super Bowl to make that a top attraction. All those things, I feel very good about, but I think they played a big part in popularizing the league. I know that with the Super Bowl, someone once wrote, obviously facetiously, that if Jesus Christ were alive today, He would be attending the Super Bowl. Tongue in cheek, but it is a terrifically awesome one-day attraction.</p> <p><strong>It seems like the whole world stops that day.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Practically. I think it’s a great day for many people, because there is so much group viewing. I used to argue with the networks that we don’t get enough credit for the audience. Because the average home may get about ten viewers per set. But this lends itself to it. Again, talking about the crowd, how you view a crowd. And the Super Bowl — why, they like to have group showings, like to share the experience. Have a party, have a set on — set or sets — and watch it together.</p> <p><strong>You pulled off some amazing fancy footwork with some very persnickety owners over the years. Can you tell us some of the wilder incidents that you can remember of owners acting up?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: There were occasions like that. Gosh, I’d have to think a lot about it to give you specific ones. They are a very unusual breed, because some have a lot of money, and some really depend on the sport and the club to get by. And there are all types. They come from very patrician WASPish backgrounds, to men who came up the very hard way — from the ghettos and so forth, Brooklyn — and have made it as entrepreneurs. It’s a fascinating thing to watch, to sit at a meeting and watch the interplay with the owners, and how they vote, and so forth. There have been cases where they have gotten angry at one another at meetings and expressed themselves in different ways — but it’s a real experience, I can tell you that.</p> <p><strong>Do you recall an incident of violence, or threats?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, way back, I think there were incidents of verbal threats of violence, but they didn’t follow through.</p> <p><strong>What was your secret in getting all these people to vote your way?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: The main thing is trying to be patient. Be sure to give them a chance to speak to the issue on both sides, and so forth. Then I would have a policy of taking straw votes, and seeing how close it was to passing, if I was trying to get it passed. And if it won by one or two, then you might recess, and then talk to those one or two, and see if they have changed their vote. But mainly, again, being patient and giving everyone a chance to be heard on something, so they feel they were heard, and they wouldn’t suffer too much by the outcome if it went the other way, against them.</p> <p><strong>Being such a patient person, and so even-handed, didn’t it drive you crazy, trying to get along with some of these big prima donna personalities?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Well, they are all types, as I say. Some are the most decent, reasonable-thinking, calm, willing-to-compromise people you could find. Others are just the other way. You have a great lesson in psychology to watch the ownership group as a whole, because they do vary. But the one thing they are all together on — boy, they want to win! They are as bad as the coaches. They want to win. They just gotta win! And anything they think gives them an edge, why, they are going to try and do it.</p> <p><strong>In <em>First Down and a Billion</em>, Gene Klein’s book, there are some details of what it’s like to deal with the owners.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: A lot of Gene’s book was on the AFL before the merger, and they really did have some rambunctious meetings — from what I heard after the merger — he told me.</p> <p><strong>You’ve had to do a lot of politicking, and in some cases literally going to Congress and lobbying. Did you ever think about going into politics yourself?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No, not really. I enjoyed meeting a lot of the congressional leaders and Senate leaders and so forth. I remember hearing a wonderful story from a great Senator, Russell Long of Louisiana. At the time, I was trying to get the merger bill through Congress. He was supporting it because he knew we’d grant a franchise in New Orleans if we did get the merger through. So one night I sat up drinking with him in his Watergate apartment — this was in the ’60s — and we were up almost all night. Really a funny man, particularly when he talked about his relatives. He told me a story on his uncle Earl. Earl (Long), who was Governor of Louisiana. I’ll never forget it. He said that when Earl decided he was going to run for governor, he talked to his aides and so forth and told them to go out and get support from everybody. So the aides came back, and said, “Well, we’ve talked to all our boys, including the big boys. And they said they will support you, contribute financially to your campaign, and they will also get out the vote,” and Earl says, “Fine.” And he says, “All they want to be assured of was a little easing of the regulations on gambling and liquor,” and so forth in those days. So he says, “Fine, tell them okay.” So they went back and he is elected Governor of Louisiana. This is Russell’s uncle. And about a month after the election, one of his aides comes in, and he says, “Those guys that supported us and got out the vote, and gave financial help, they said nothing has changed in the law enforcement of those things.” So the aide — then two months go by, three, and four — and now he can’t even get to Governor Long. Finally, after six months, he corners him in the corridor. He says, “These guys are talking about me taking a swim in the Mississippi in a concrete suit. Now what can I tell them?” And the Governor said, “You just tell them Earl Long lied.” That was from Louisiana politics, I guess in the ’30s maybe, the ’30s and ’40s. And for that, and a lot of other reasons, I never thought about going into politics.</p> <p><strong>Did you work with Congressman Hale Boggs as well?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Boggs? This was the same period. Both Senator Long and Hale Boggs, I got to know very well. They were supportive of the bill that would put through the merger, because they knew that they would have an expansion franchise in Louisiana. They had just built a big superdome, or were going to build it. It was the logical place for a football team, because of the interest in the sport down there. So they did support us, we got the bill through, and they got a franchise.</p> <p><strong>There was a lot of political persuasion in the work that you’ve done.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes. I was fortunate, because you have many members of Congress that know something about sports, and football, and like it. Senator Ted Kennedy was very helpful. Jack Kennedy was helpful, because they knew sports and at least you could have a session with them, get your point across.</p> <p><strong>Do you feel that TV has too much influence over the game now? It certainly has had a tremendous influence.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Particularly with the money they pay. That’s what’s caused football, as well as other sports, a lot of trouble with the labor relations. Because highly publicized television contracts create a voice on the part of players, to get some of it. Maybe too much of it sometimes, and that’s been a major factor. Some people don’t like the instant replay. We felt that there was going to be a reaction. You’re going to have the instant replay, whether they have a rule to change a play or not. Because by having it, and just showing it on television — which they would — why the people could see whether a play was called, in some cases, correctly or incorrectly. So we decided that for that reason we should show it, we should use it rather for evaluating the way to place a call. I think that for the most part it’s had a very healthy reaction on football. When you look at the money it’s brought to the game, and the promotion and popularity it’s brought about, it’s awfully hard to say that it’s a drag on the game.</p> <p><strong>It’s been said that when you took over as commissioner, football was a game, and it became a business. Do you ever think it’s too much of a business now?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No. One face of it is always a negative. I’ve talked to other commissioners about this. It’s tough to have litigation. There’s a growing spread of litigation in sports, over maybe the last ten to 15 years. When you’re trying to use your efforts, and you’re being constructive, when you’re going through a two-year case, a couple of long sessions in court much of the time, and you feel it’s so wasteful against what could be positive that you could be doing with that time. That was something I found distasteful. But the business side, as a business per se, I didn’t think it became too much that. You still have the feverish interest of the fans and the great dedication of the players to win. They don’t even think of this when they’re playing.</p> <p><strong>Where do you see football going in the next 25 years? What changes do you see happening?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Boy, you’ve seen so many in the last 30 that it’s really hard to imagine. As transportation, communication, and things that will create a closer world bring the countries closer together, I think it’s certainly possible, with the interest being shown on the world league games, that the NFL might have teams in London, Barcelona, Frankfurt. All of them have done well, of course, in this World League. But I think that’s possible in the future. It would have to be a situation where you have faster travel and so forth, and a real interest on the part of the people in those countries in football, which we’re starting to learn about now.</p> <p><strong>So you see a possible globalization of football in the future?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes, I think that’s possible. And for other sports.</p> <p><strong>Will salaries keep inflating?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I don’t know, that’s tough. This last television contract they signed was a very good one for the sport. But when they get to the end of it, with the networks doing rather poorly now, and not having the 95 percent of the audience that they used to have, now they have cable, and a rival, independent Fox network, and they have fractionated the audience so that they can’t get the number of viewers they had before. Now if that continues, it will be awfully hard for them at the end of this contract to pay what they’ve been paying. That’s why the sport that gets involved with the big deferred payments to players over the years, if they don’t have that money coming in the future, why it could be tough.</p> <p><strong>And the networks speak for themselves. It’s a little up in the air.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Very difficult, after being so dominant for so long.</p> <p><strong>You mentioned that drawn-out litigation really gets you down. Could you tell us a little about the Al Davis matter, and what a mess that was for you?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: That was a direct challenge to the NFL constitution, which said you have to have a three-quarters approving vote if you’re going to move your franchise. And we had Davis challenge that in his move from Oakland to Los Angeles. And it was sitting there in the constitution, and I couldn’t just say, “Oh, I’m not going to press this.” I brought it to the attention of the owners, and I said, “I think we have to defend this constitution.” So we had two trials over a couple of years. They were long ones. And the trial was in Los Angeles, where he ultimately won with the jury. So he was permitted to move from Oakland to Los Angeles. And that decision in itself triggered a couple of other moves. From Baltimore to Indianapolis, that bothered people in the Baltimore area of course. But stability is a great thing in sports, and the fans feel a definite loss when they lose a franchise, it’s not good for a sport.</p> <p><strong>That was a particularly long and ugly battle with Al Davis. He seems to have been somebody that did get under your skin.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Sure. It bothered me and a lot of other people in the NFL. I find it difficult to accept. You have someone that agrees to be a part of a league. And the basis for the league is this constitution which the league members write up. These are the rules we are going to abide by. They all agree to abide by them. And then one of them, using the antitrust laws of the country, says, “Well, I want to move my franchise, and this is an illegal rule,” after he agreed to accept it. And that part, I found difficult to accept. The other thing that particularly bothered me with Al was he found fit to testify for the United States Football League when that league was operated partially by Donald Trump. Filed suit against the NFL. He testified for them. And they won kind of a partial victory, I think they won a dollar — treble was three dollars, they got — after a lengthy trial in New York. But those two instances were really annoying.</p> <p><strong>There were some extraordinary incidents in Gene Klein’s book about the team owners. Do you remember an incident with the bathroom, and people running after each other?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: No, I wasn’t there. That was the AFL before the merger. Wait a minute! I remember one very heavy verbal attack, and we will forget who it was against, but it was George Halas, the founder of the league. He got so mad at this owner once at a meeting, and he said, “This man is full of ____! This man is a liar! This man is a cheat! This man is full of chicanery!” He even went way back, remembered the word from the distant far ages, but he was very heated. And there was something, to see George Halas so emotional.</p> <p><strong>You were able to soothe the savage beasts on a lot of occasions.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: There was some of that, but also there was a lot of cooperation. They were a good bunch, all quite different, but in the final analysis, they did a good job of staying together enough to build a league.</p> <p><strong>When Al Davis won the right to move the team, did you feel that was in some ways the beginning of the end?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I knew it. Because I knew it could cause problems, as it did with the transfer of the Baltimore franchise, and the franchise from St. Louis to Phoenix as an aftermath of that suit.</p> <p><strong>Did you think that cost you the loyalty of some of the fans?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: They obviously were very upset about it. I don’t think it helped the image of the league too much.</p> <p><strong>Al Davis isn’t very popular in L.A. or Oakland either.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: He sure had success with building a pretty good football team, on occasion. The Oakland people wouldn’t care for Al, I guess.</p> <p><strong>Looking back at your career, and how young people might learn from your example, what personal characteristics do you think are most important for success?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Education. Thorough preparation. Patience. Understanding. Communication with people. Those are the ones that I would think of.</p> <p><strong>Looking at your career, I think that confidence must be important too.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: You have to believe in something that you’re trying to sell, or it doesn’t come across very well, so you have to be confident of positions after you’ve researched them. If you’re going to take that position, you have to have confidence in that support.</p> <p><strong>Don’t you also have to be somewhat fearless about making an unpopular decision?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: You can’t make decisions based upon whether it will be popular or not. You have to make decisions based on whether they’re right.</p> <p><strong>That’s hard for kids to do.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Sure. For some adults too.</p> <p><strong>What do you think were the most difficult challenges in your career? It seems like a very smooth road. Were there any tough times?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Not really on a major basis. We lost the court case when the Raiders moved, so now you have more or less free agency on the part of franchises. They move from city to city. I thought that was a loss. But I tend to discount extreme praise or extreme criticism. You just have to do what you think is right.</p> <p><strong>Is it tough to balance professional success — a career that involves tremendous commitment and time — and a personal life?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: It’s difficult. You really have to do it as best you can. Because your family is important too. You can’t be so totally absorbed that you are not involved in their activities as well. So, I tried to divorce the two as best I could.</p> <p><strong>It seems like your wife and family are very important to you.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes. I try to keep them out of the limelight as best I can. And they’ve done so, pretty much. I think it’s healthy.</p> <p><strong>What inspired you to be so open with charity, and to make the NFL a very large donor?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I became interested in the United Way, because, in our contract with the television networks, we had a certain amount of promo time for ourselves. It was so much money, about $40 million a year. We had a couple of extra minutes on each tape, on each network. We used them for a while on relatively self-serving things, and I thought, rather than have that time be spent on saying “the NFL is great,” we should try to use it for some good. That’s when we bound our relationship with the United Way. They do some wonderful things with our time on that, in telling the general public what the United Way is, and the programs that help people. I like that very much. So it’s a sound program, and I’m glad we did it.</p> <p><strong>Did you feel a sense of responsibility to give back some of what you’ve earned?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: I think everyone has that.</p> <p><strong>Your wife is active in charities as well.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Yes. When I got her out of New York, I didn’t think she would be as active, but she’s getting pretty involved out here in the San Diego area. She feels a great commitment. About ten or 11 years ago, she founded a charity — the Foundation For Children With Learning Disabilities. Because two of my stepchildren — two of her natural children — were learning disabled. It’s something that parents have gotten involved with, someone that can help them with recommendations on schooling and so forth. It’s been very successful. She’s done a wonderful job. There wasn’t much understood about this for many years. I remember when I was with the Los Angeles Rams, there was a football player, he was a back, and he had a big L on this foot and a big R on this one. And I thought, “Boy, the quarterback calls the plays whether to go left or right, and he will be down the street.” But it’s something that a lot of people have had, including Einstein, had a degree of learning disability. But in any event, she started this foundation, and got a lot of prominent friends of ours involved. It’s been very successful. I’m very proud of her efforts on that. Now she has Ann Ford Scarboro as chairman. She lives in New York and she is chairing it now, so Carrie is just helping as best she can from out here.</p> <p><strong>She’s been very active in your business life, and I gather that she was an important source of strength during a lot of upheaval for you.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: We had a no-cut agreement when we got married, and the league honored it. She traveled with me at the time, I would not travel alone. She was very helpful, sitting through all the trials with me, and general travels, Washington, Congress, and so forth. She was very supportive. They just put it in the contract that she could always travel with me, which I wanted. It worked out very well. She was quite an asset.</p> <p><strong>Why was it so important to put that in the contract?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Just for her expenses to be covered. Whenever I would travel she would travel with me, wherever I went. She got very involved with the league. She set up, for the first time, programs at owners’ meetings where the wives could have something for a change. She set up tennis and golf tournaments for the other half, and also speakers on feminine subjects of interest, seminars. She got it so the wives wouldn’t just sit around and stare at each other by the pool, they got actively involved, and I think they enjoyed it.</p> <p><strong>Going back to your beginnings, for a moment, was there a book, or a couple of books, that particularly inspired you as a kid?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: There really wasn’t. That’s one thing I kind of regret. I started reading, and became interested in reading very young. But I read sports books. I read sports pages and newspapers. That’s one thing that I would like to have had that I missed, reading more scholarly books than I did. I was so devoted to sports.</p> <p><strong>Were there any sports book in particular that you remember?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: They were minor books for the most part. Bestsellers in sports have just been recent.</p> <p><strong>Were there any particular sports writers that you were especially impressed by?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Oh, over the years, there are so many. One would be the man — I wanted to take his job away some day — Paul Zimmerman, sports editor of the L.A. <em>Times</em>. Jim Murray is writing for the <em>Times</em> now. Red Smith. I had the honor of meeting Grantland Rice way back when I was at the University of San Francisco. When we played New York in football back in 1951. Just a lot of good sports writers became friends of mine. And I respect them a great deal.</p> <p><strong>Is there any parting advice you’d like to offer young people who are reading this interview?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Never underestimate the power of an education. Everyone will tell you that, and you say, “Well, it’s not for me.” But if you can get it, it’s the most valuable thing you can get. Because it leads to happiness in your general life, and also can be your basis for a great vocation. Be patient. Learn to get along with people. It just doesn’t make sense to have an antagonistic personality. Try to get along with people. And when you have a project, prepare carefully for it. Prepare carefully. And if you do those things, I think you can lead a pretty good life.</p> <p><strong>A lot of people get so wrapped up in their jobs, they neglect their personal life.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: That’s important too. Because everyone has to have an outlet. Otherwise you can get so involved in your job, or any one thing, that you’re not a very well-balanced person, and you’re not happy either, normally. I think it’s very important to take up an avocation. Sports — that was mine. But gosh, it could be music. It could be any number of things that can help give you that escape from your job or your family problems. I think the big thing is that through an avocation, you might find your vocation. In other words, just exploring music, or whatever it might me, you might find that you end up doing it, somewhere in that field. That can be part of your education, actually.</p> <p><strong>Pete Rozelle is a good example of that.</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: In my case, it worked.</p> <p><strong>Are any of your children or stepchildren following in a sports career?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Not really. A couple of them are going to law school, or will be going. And my daughter did some public relations work, more or less following my pattern, back in New York.</p> <p><strong>Are they big football fans?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: Very much so.</p> <p><strong>Do you believe a person has control over his own future, and what he makes of his life?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: He can have a heck of a lot to say about it, if he gets luck and timing. But he can have a lot to say about it if he prepares himself properly and learns to get along with people, and just prepares well. Then he needs the luck with that. Without the luck, he may have trouble, but also without that preparation, education-wise, he wouldn’t have a shot.</p> <p><strong>How would you say that, if you were addressing a young person?</strong></p> <p>Pete Rozelle: You will probably consider it a cliché, because people have been telling you this for the rest of your life, but don’t minimize the importance of an education. That’s the most valuable thing you can have. It can, of course, lead to a fuller life. It can lead to possibly a better life in your job, but most importantly, it can make you a happier person. I think that’s the most important thing I can tell you, and you will hear it over and over again, so you’re going to feel it’s a hackneyed cliché. You can’t minimize its importance. The other thing is trying to learn to get along with people. You’re going to be living with them for the rest of your life, so you might as well learn how to get along with them and be compromising, and just learn to get along.</p> <p><strong>Thank you so much for talking with us today. We really appreciate it.</strong></p> <p>You’re welcome.</p> </div>  </aside>  <div class="read-more__toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#full-interview"><a href="#" class="sans-4 btn">Read full interview</a></div> </article> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane fade" id="gallery" role="tabpanel"> <section class="isotope-wrapper">  <header class="toolbar toolbar--gallery bg-white clearfix"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="serif-4">Pete Rozelle Gallery</div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 text-md-right isotope-toolbar"> <ul class="list-unstyled list-inline m-b-0 text-brand-primary sans-4"> <li class="list-inline-item" data-filter=".photo"><i class="icon-icon_camera"></i>43 photos</li> </ul> </div> </header> <div class="isotope-gallery isotope-box single-achiever__gallery clearfix"> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65921052631579" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-featured.jpg" data-image-caption="January 27, 1991: Commissioner of the NFL Paul Tagliabue (L) holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle (R) holding the first-ever Pete Rozelle Trophy that will be given to the MVP of Super Bowl XXV between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the Super Bowl 20-19, and New York Giants running back Otis Anderson was the MVP. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="rozelle-featured" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-featured-380x250.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-featured-760x501.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board.jpg" data-image-caption="Pete Rozelle, professional football commissioner, works at blackboard at hotel in New York City on March 14, 1967 as he conducts the combined National Football League (NFL)-American Football League (AFL) football player draft. (AP Photo/Jacob Harris)" data-image-copyright="rozelle-draft-board" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board-380x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rozelle-draft-board-760x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65921052631579" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy.jpeg" data-image-caption="Pete Rozelle successfully lobbied in Washington for a limited antitrust exemption to allow the NFL to negotiate a network television contract as a single enterprise. President John F. Kennedy signed a sports legislation bill into law on September 30, 1961. Three months later, Rozelle announced that a contract had been signed with CBS, which produced the then-princely sum of $4,650,000 a year, to be divided equally among the NFL's teams. Not only did the deal with CBS improve the NFL's financial outlook, but it also became a valuable tool in fueling already-growing fan enthusiasm." data-image-copyright="President-John-F-Kennedy" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy-380x251.jpeg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/President-John-F-Kennedy-760x501.jpeg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.94868421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Photo-rozelle-bush.jpg" data-image-caption="November 1980: Vice President-elect and former Congressman from Texas, George H.W. Bush, while sitting with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle at the Astrodome." data-image-copyright="BUSH OILER FAN 1980" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Photo-rozelle-bush-380x360.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Photo-rozelle-bush-760x721.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66973684210526" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526.jpg" data-image-caption="January 16, 1972: National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle, left, presents Vince Lombardi Trophy to Dallas coach Tom Landry after the Cowboys whipped Miami 24-3 to win the Super Bowl game in New Orleans. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="Pete Rozelle, Tom Landry" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526-380x254.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PETE_ROZELLE_AND_TOM_LANDRY_34422526-760x509.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.70526315789474" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Pete_Rozelle_and_George_Halas.jpg" data-image-caption="1980s: Pete Rozelle and George Halas at the dedication ceremony of the George S. Halas, Jr. Sports Center, on the Campus of Loyola University Chicago." data-image-copyright="Pete_Rozelle_and_George_Halas" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Pete_Rozelle_and_George_Halas-380x268.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Pete_Rozelle_and_George_Halas-760x536.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.74736842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ollie-matson-trade.jpeg" data-image-caption="July 29, 1972: Pro Hall of Fame enshrinees Clarence "Ace" Parker, Ollie Matson, Gino Marchetti and Lamar Hunt after induction ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/File)" data-image-copyright="Clarence Parker, Ollie Matson, Gino Marchetti, Hunt" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ollie-matson-trade-380x284.jpeg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ollie-matson-trade-760x568.jpeg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.0326086956522" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle.jpg" data-image-caption="1962: National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle was reelected to a new five-year contract at the league meeting at Miami Beach, Florida. Going over league business today with Rozelle are George Halas, owner and coach of the Chicago Bears; and Joe Donoghue, executive vice president of the Philadelphia Eagles, who also was reelected to a five-year term as league assistant treasurer. (Associated Press)" data-image-copyright="halas-rozelle" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle-368x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/halas-rozelle-736x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.72631578947368" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Gty_super_bowlI_award_ceremony_hb_160125.jpg" data-image-caption="1967: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle hands the victory trophy to Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi following Super Bowl I, a 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles." data-image-copyright="Gty_super_bowlI_award_ceremony_hb_160125" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Gty_super_bowlI_award_ceremony_hb_160125-380x276.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Gty_super_bowlI_award_ceremony_hb_160125-760x552.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66184210526316" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/gifford.jpg" data-image-caption="NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle meets with Frank Gifford and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt before the Miami Dolphins defeated the Chiefs 27-24 in overtime in the 1971 AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium on December 25, 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri. (National Football League)" data-image-copyright="gifford" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/gifford-380x251.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/gifford-760x503.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.70526315789474" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/GettyImages-477616906-frankgifford-super-bowl-1.jpg" data-image-caption="The First World Championship Game, AFL vs. NFL, later known as Super Bowl I, on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. CBS Television camera pointed at commentator Frank Gifford. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Super Bowl I" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/GettyImages-477616906-frankgifford-super-bowl-1-380x268.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/GettyImages-477616906-frankgifford-super-bowl-1-760x536.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4814814814815" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/GettyImages-961682001.jpg" data-image-caption="1980s: Commissioner of the NFL Pete Rozelle. "The 1980s saw drug scandals and struggles with powerful owners over team movement. Additionally, the United States Football League (USFL) formed, again pushing player salaries higher, and ultimately embroiled the league in further legal troubles. Rozelle guided the NFL through the troubled 1980s, with television revenues per team climbing from $69 million to $493.5 million between 1977 and 1986. The NFL withstood its rival league, and the USFL eventually folded in 1987, shortly after it lost its legal battle against the NFL. He also presided during two players' strikes in 1982 and 1987." (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Commisioner of the NFL" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/GettyImages-961682001-256x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/GettyImages-961682001-513x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68289473684211" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/EP-150229214.jpg" data-image-caption="1986: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, left, stands with Auburn running back Bo Jackson after he was chosen first in the NFL draft by Tampa Bay. Jackson never wanted to play for the Bucs and opted for baseball before being drafted the following year by the Raiders. (Associated Press)" data-image-copyright="EP-150229214" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/EP-150229214-380x259.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/EP-150229214-760x519.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.8" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Draft-Day-1970.-Dan-Rooney-and-Art-Rooney.jpg" data-image-caption="1970: Dan Rooney and Art Rooney during draft day." data-image-copyright="1970: Dan Rooney and Art Rooney during draft day." data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Draft-Day-1970.-Dan-Rooney-and-Art-Rooney-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Draft-Day-1970.-Dan-Rooney-and-Art-Rooney-760x608.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68815789473684" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/daniel-rooney-dan-rooney-peter-rozelle-chuck-noll_pg_600.jpg" data-image-caption="1976: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle presents the Super Bowl trophy to Pittsburgh Steelers President Dan Rooney and head coach Chuck Noll after Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17, to win Super Bowl X in the Orange Bowl in Miami. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)" data-image-copyright="daniel-rooney-dan-rooney-peter-rozelle-chuck-noll_pg_600" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/daniel-rooney-dan-rooney-peter-rozelle-chuck-noll_pg_600-380x262.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/daniel-rooney-dan-rooney-peter-rozelle-chuck-noll_pg_600-760x523.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.79605263157895" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/browns1953jpg-ed41aa5aef0aea37-paul-brown-cleveland.jpg" data-image-caption="1953: Paul Brown coaching the Cleveland Browns. Brown was instrumental in Rozelle's surprise ascent from general manager of the Los Angeles Rams to NFL commissioner as a compromise candidate on the 23rd ballot at the historic league meeting in January 1960, at Miami Beach. None of the leading candidates could muster enough votes to earn election. Brown got hold of (New York Giants owner) Wellington Mara and (Rams owner) Dan Reeves and asked if Dan would agree to let them nominate Pete. Rozelle was 33 years old, but that didn't matter to Paul Brown. He saw in Pete qualities that would make him, in time, an outstanding commissioner. He said to Pete, "Don't worry about being too young; you'll grow into the job."" data-image-copyright="browns1953jpg-ed41aa5aef0aea37-paul brown-cleveland" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/browns1953jpg-ed41aa5aef0aea37-paul-brown-cleveland-380x302.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/browns1953jpg-ed41aa5aef0aea37-paul-brown-cleveland-760x605.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.80394736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bert-bell-6.jpg" data-image-caption="1947: NFL owners and coaches meet with Bert Bell, NFL Commissioner." data-image-copyright="1947: NFL owners and coaches meet with Bert Bell, NFL commissioner." data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bert-bell-6-380x305.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bert-bell-6-760x611.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.775" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600.jpg" data-image-caption="1956: Wellington Mara, then New York Giants secretary, and his brother Jack Mara, Giants' president, pose with George Weiss, Yankees general manager, and NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, near a mural of Yankee Stadium in New York. Bell was the NFL commissioner from 1945 until his death in 1959. "After Bert Bell's death, in October 1959, the 33-year-old Rozelle was the surprise choice for his replacement as NFL commissioner. According to Howard Cosell, in his book <i>I Never Played the Game</i>, the owners took 23 ballots before settling on Rozelle as NFL commissioner at a January 26, 1960 meeting." (Associated Press)" data-image-copyright="bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600-380x295.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bell-bert-0ap2000000124422_gallery_600-760x589.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.3793103448276" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ap6407201216-ollie-matson.jpg" data-image-caption="1964: Ollie Matson, halfback for the Philadelphia Eagles, at the team's training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania. When the Rams traded eight players and a draft choice to the Cardinals to get Matson in 1959, in one of the biggest deals in league history, Rozelle was the Rams general manager who made the deal. (AP Photo, File)" data-image-copyright="Ollie Matson" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ap6407201216-ollie-matson-275x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ap6407201216-ollie-matson-551x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.77894736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1.jpg" data-image-caption="1967: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle hands the victory trophy to Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi following Super Bowl I, a 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles." data-image-copyright="AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1-380x296.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_super_bowl_i_trophy_hb_160125_1-760x592.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.63026315789474" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254.jpg" data-image-caption="1985: Pete Rozelle, NFL Commissioner, poses with a bronze bust of himself after induction ceremonies into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ernie Mastroianni)" data-image-copyright="AP_229728908254" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254-380x240.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_229728908254-760x479.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65131578947368" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807.jpg" data-image-caption="Football Commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1969. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="Football commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1969. (AP Photo)" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807-380x247.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_69010102807-760x495.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65394736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_8501181237.jpg" data-image-caption="1985: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle tells reporters at a press conference in San Francisco that the NFL received legal letters from the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Cardinals saying they would not be restricted by the league's guidelines for moving franchises. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)" data-image-copyright="AP_8501181237" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_8501181237-380x249.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_8501181237-760x497.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.8" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145.jpg" data-image-caption="1966: The NFL holds a press conference to announce that the NFL and AFL plan to merge in an expanded major professional football league. Pete Rozelle, named commissioner of the newly merged NFL, is center. At left is Tex Schramm, President of the NFL Dallas Cowboys. Lamar Hunt, President of the AFL Kansas City Chiefs, is right, in New York on June 8, 1966. (Pro Football Hall of Fame via AP Images)" data-image-copyright="AP_6607081145" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6607081145-760x608.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65789473684211" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261.jpg" data-image-caption="Pete Rozelle grins as he answers questions — in New York on June 9, 1966 — about the merger agreement between the National and American Football Leagues. Rozelle, now NFL commissioner, will become commissioner of the new league. At left is Tex Schramm, NFL President and head of the Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/John Duricka )" data-image-copyright="Pete Rozelle, Tex Schramm" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261-380x250.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AP_6606090261-760x500.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68815789473684" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1453001144-1989_TROY_AIKMAN_DRAFT_29245878.jpg" data-image-caption="April 23, 1989: Pete Rozelle, NFL Commissioner, right, began the 54th annual draft of collegiate talent. At this, his final draft, he announced the selection of UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, left, as the first pick by the Dallas Cowboys in New York. Aikman already had signed a six-year, $11.2 million contract wih the Cowboys. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)" data-image-copyright="1989 Troy Aikman Draft" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1453001144-1989_TROY_AIKMAN_DRAFT_29245878-380x262.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1453001144-1989_TROY_AIKMAN_DRAFT_29245878-760x523.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.63684210526316" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/103926479.0.jpg" data-image-caption="1981: Former Chicago Bears player, head coach, and owner George "Papa Bear" Halas, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle during a Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust hearing. (Nate Fine/NFL)" data-image-copyright="Pete Rozelle - NFL Commissioner - File Photos" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/103926479.0-380x242.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/103926479.0-760x484.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-6-pete.jpg" data-image-caption="1970: Lamar Hunt, left, one of the founders of the AFL, with Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram, center, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, prior to the Super Bowl in New Orleans." data-image-copyright="20160301-6-pete" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-6-pete-380x252.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-6-pete-760x505.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.64342105263158" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-5-pete.jpg" data-image-caption="May 3, 1978: Earl Campbell, left, and National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle hold up Campbell’s jersey after Campbell was chosen by the Houston Oilers as the No. 1 draft choice in the first round of the NFL draft in New York. (AP Photo/Pickoff)" data-image-copyright="20160301-5-pete" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-5-pete-380x245.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-5-pete-760x489.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.5" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-4-pete.jpg" data-image-caption="Pete Rozelle served as commissioner of the NFL for 30 years, spanning the terms of eight U.S. presidents." data-image-copyright="20160301-4-pete" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-4-pete-380x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-4-pete-760x380.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.70526315789474" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-3-pete.jpg" data-image-caption="Pete Rozelle and George Halas in the early 1980s." data-image-copyright="20160301-3-pete" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-3-pete-380x268.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-3-pete-760x536.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.78947368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-2-pete.jpg" data-image-caption="January 27, 1970: Commissioner Pete Rozelle points to Pittsburgh Steelers and their No. 1 selection, Terry Bradshaw, Louisiana tech quarterback, at the pro football draft of college players in New York. Green Bay, in No. 2 position, chose Mike McCoy of Notre Dame. Cleveland got the No. 3 pick and took Mike Phipps of Purdue. Phil Olsen of Utah State was selected by Boston, Al Cowlings of Southern California by Buffalo, Mike Reid of Penn State by Cincinnati, Larry Stegent of Texas A and M by St. Louis, and Cedric Hardman of North Texas State by San Francisco. (AP Photo/HH)" data-image-copyright="20160301-2-pete" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-2-pete-380x300.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20160301-2-pete-760x600.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.2377850162866" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/48710j_lg.jpeg" data-image-caption="Pete Rozelle with 1962 Clark C. Griffith Memorial Trophy." data-image-copyright="Pete Rozelle with 1962 Clark C. Griffith Memorial Trophy" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/48710j_lg-307x380.jpeg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/48710j_lg-614x760.jpeg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66315789473684" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1974draft.jpg" data-image-caption="January 29, 1974: National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle announces the draft choices shown behind him on a rear screen projection system at the annual NFL college player draft held in New York City. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)" data-image-copyright="1974draft" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1974draft-380x252.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1974draft-760x504.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.60394736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1966_ap_john_mecom_2048x1237_r4163_2048x1237cc.jpg" data-image-caption="December 1966: Texas oilman John W. Mecom Jr. is introduced as the team's new owner, while NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle looks on with a mixture of hope and sympathy. After all, Mecom had just plunked down $8.5 million for a team certain to lose." data-image-copyright="1966_ap_john_mecom_2048x1237_r4163_2048x1237cc" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1966_ap_john_mecom_2048x1237_r4163_2048x1237cc-380x230.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1966_ap_john_mecom_2048x1237_r4163_2048x1237cc-760x459.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft.jpg" data-image-caption="November 28, 1964: General view of the National Football League draft meeting in New York. Commissioner Pete Rozelle reads the picks as representatives of the various clubs make their selections. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)" data-image-copyright="1964draft" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft-380x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1964draft-760x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.99210526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600.jpg" data-image-caption="1959: Billy Cannon, center, listens during conversation between Los Angeles Rams coach Sid Gillman, left, and Rams general manager Pete Rozelle after the Los Angeles team picked Cannon as their first choice in the NFL draft in Philadelphia. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600-380x377.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1959-nfl-draft-billy-cannon-pete-rozelle-sid-gillman_pg_600-760x754.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.97368421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967.jpg" data-image-caption="June 7, 1967: Edward Bennett Williams (President of the Washington Redskins), Senator Everett Dirksen, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Rep. Gerald Ford, unidentified (probably Rep. John Byrnes). The AFL-NFL inter-league struggle of the 1960s commanded not only extensive media coverage but much of Rozelle's attention as well. With the competitive gap becoming greater in both leagues, and with several clubs on the brink of possible collapse, it became apparent that an end to the "war" was essential for both leagues. After Rozelle and owners from both sides negotiated and finally announced a merger on June 8, 1966, Rozelle went to Washington to get congressional approval. On October 21, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation granting a limited exemption that protected the June merger from antitrust challenge. (LBJ Presidential Library)" data-image-copyright="1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967-380x370.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1051px-President_Johnson_with_members_of_congress_1967-760x740.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.8" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451.jpg" data-image-caption="1969: Joe Namath, star quarterback for the New York Jets, with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, at a news conference in New York. Namath capitulated to Rozelle's demand that he sell his share in a New York restaurant, claiming it was frequented by undesirable characters. Namath had first announced he was quitting football, but is now free to join the Jets. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)" data-image-copyright="43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/43d9ee70-2c15-11e6-96bd-952c52dbff62_GettyImages-97343451-760x608.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.775" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/7fdc4803262b617d10657e4a7cffa035.jpg" data-image-caption="1975: Steelers owner Art Rooney (with then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle) with the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl IX against the Vikings. It was their first championship, and a football dynasty was born in Pittsburgh." data-image-copyright="7fdc4803262b617d10657e4a7cffa035" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/7fdc4803262b617d10657e4a7cffa035-380x294.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/7fdc4803262b617d10657e4a7cffa035-760x589.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.0066225165563" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/0ap2000000103322_gallery_600.jpg" data-image-caption="1968: George Halas, left, coach of the Chicago Bears, and Vince Lombardi, coach of the Green Bay Packers, meet at the New York Chapter of the Professional Football Writers' Association in New York City. Halas, soon to start his 41st year with the Bears, is being presented with an award by the association. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="0ap2000000103322_gallery_600" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/0ap2000000103322_gallery_600-378x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/0ap2000000103322_gallery_600-755x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65131578947368" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/0ap2000000094057_gallery_600.jpg" data-image-caption="April 18, 1989: Arkansas oilman Jerry Jones, center, is flanked by Tex Schramm, left, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle during a press conference in New York. An era came to an end when NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Dallas Cowboys to Jones, and Schramm, the only president the team ever had, resigned to head the new International Football League. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)" data-image-copyright="0ap2000000094057_gallery_600" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/0ap2000000094057_gallery_600-380x247.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/0ap2000000094057_gallery_600-760x495.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.3571428571429" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago.jpg" data-image-caption="Awards Council member Preston Robert Tisch, co-owner of the NY Giants, presents the Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award to Pete Rozelle during the 1990 Achievement Summit in Chicago, Illinois." data-image-copyright="Rozelle and Tisch, 1990 chicago" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago-280x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rozelle-and-Tisch-1990-chicago-560x760.jpg"></div>  </figure>    </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <footer class="editorial-article__footer col-md-8 col-md-offset-4"> <div class="editorial-article__next-link sans-3"> <a href="#"><strong>What's next:</strong> <span class="editorial-article__next-link-title">profile</span></a> </div> <ul class="social list-unstyled list-inline ssk-group m-b-0"> <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-facebook" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever on Facebook"><i class="icon-icon_facebook-circle"></i></a></li> <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-twitter" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever on Twitter"><i class="icon-icon_twitter-circle"></i></a></li>  <li 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href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mike-krzyzewski/"> <figure class="ratio-container ratio-container--square bg-black"> <div class="lazyload box achiever-block__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/krzyzewski_760_ac-190x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/06/krzyzewski_760_ac-380x380.jpg"></div> <div class="achiever-block__overlay"></div> <figcaption class="text-xs-center achiever-block__text"> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">Mike Krzyzewski</div> <div class="achiever-block__known-as text-white sans-6">Collegiate Basketball Champion</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-white achiever-block__text--bottom"> <div class="achiever-block__year sans-4">Inducted in <span class="year-inducted">1995</span></div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div 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</div> </div> <footer class="content-info main-footer bg-black"> <div class="container"> <div class="find-achiever" id="find-achiever-list"> <div class="form-group"> <input id="find-achiever-input" class="search js-focus" placeholder="Search for an achiever"/> <i class="icon-icon_chevron-down"></i> </div> <ul class="find-achiever-list list m-b-0 list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/hank-aaron/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Hank Aaron</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/kareem-abdul-jabbar/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lynsey-addario/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lynsey Addario</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/edward-albee/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Edward Albee</span></a> </li> <li> <a 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Carter Brown</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/linda-buck/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Linda Buck, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carol-burnett/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carol Burnett</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/george-h-w-bush/"><span class="achiever-list-name">George H. W. Bush</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/susan-butcher/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Susan Butcher</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-cameron/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Cameron</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/benjamin-s-carson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Benjamin S. Carson, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jimmy-carter/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jimmy Carter</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/johnny-cash/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Johnny Cash</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/william-j-clinton/"><span class="achiever-list-name">William J. Clinton</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/francis-s-collins/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/denton-a-cooley/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Denton A. Cooley, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Francis Ford Coppola</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ray-dalio/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ray Dalio</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/olivia-de-havilland/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dame Olivia de Havilland</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/michael-e-debakey-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Michael E. DeBakey, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/michael-dell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Michael S. Dell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ron-dennis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ron Dennis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/joan-didion/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Joan Didion</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/david-herbert-donald-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David Herbert Donald, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/david-doubilet/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David Doubilet</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/rita-dove/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Rita Dove</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sylvia-earle/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sylvia Earle, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/elbaradei/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mohamed ElBaradei</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/gertrude-elion/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Gertrude B. Elion, M.Sc.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/larry-j-ellison/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Larry J. Ellison</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/nora-ephron/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nora Ephron</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/julius-erving/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Julius Erving</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/tony-fadell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Tony Fadell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/paul-farmer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Paul Farmer, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/suzanne-farrell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Suzanne Farrell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sally-field/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sally Field</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lord-norman-foster/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lord Norman Foster</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/aretha-franklin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Aretha Franklin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/milton-friedman-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Milton Friedman, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carlos-fuentes/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carlos Fuentes</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/athol-fugard/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Athol Fugard</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ernest-j-gaines/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ernest J. Gaines</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/william-h-gates-iii/"><span class="achiever-list-name">William H. Gates III</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frank-gehry/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank O. Gehry</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/murray-gell-mann-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carlos-ghosn/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carlos Ghosn</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/vince-gill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Vince Gill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ruth-bader-ginsburg/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/louise-gluck/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Louise Glück</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/whoopi-goldberg/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Whoopi Goldberg</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jane-goodall/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dame Jane Goodall</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/doris-kearns-goodwin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mikhail-s-gorbachev/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mikhail S. Gorbachev</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/nadine-gordimer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nadine Gordimer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/stephen-jay-gould/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen Jay Gould, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carol-greider-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carol Greider, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-grisham/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Grisham</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/dorothy-hamill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dorothy Hamill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/demis-hassabis-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Demis Hassabis, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lauryn-hill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lauryn Hill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sir-edmund-hillary/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Edmund Hillary</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/reid-hoffman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Reid Hoffman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/khaled-hosseini/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Khaled Hosseini, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ron-howard/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ron Howard</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-hume/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Hume</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/louis-ignarro-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/daniel-inouye/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Daniel K. Inouye</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jeremy-irons/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jeremy Irons</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-irving/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Irving</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/kazuo-ishiguro/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Kazuo Ishiguro</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sir-peter-jackson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Peter Jackson</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/donald-c-johanson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Donald C. Johanson, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frank-m-johnson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank M. Johnson, Jr.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/philip-johnson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Philip C. Johnson</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/chuck-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Chuck Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-earl-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Earl Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/quincy-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Quincy Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/beverly-joubert/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Beverly Joubert</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/dereck-joubert/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dereck Joubert</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/paul-kagame/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Paul Kagame</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/thomas-keller-2/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Thomas Keller</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/anthony-m-kennedy/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony M. Kennedy</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/b-b-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">B.B. King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/carole-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carole King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/coretta-scott-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Coretta Scott King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/henry-kissinger-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Henry A. Kissinger, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/willem-j-kolff/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Willem J. Kolff, M.D., Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wendy-kopp/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wendy Kopp</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/henry-r-kravis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Henry R. Kravis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/nicholas-d-kristof/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nicholas D. Kristof</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mike-krzyzewski/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mike Krzyzewski</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ray-kurzwell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ray Kurzweil</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/eric-lander-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Eric S. Lander, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/robert-s-langer-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert S. Langer, Sc.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/richard-leakey/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Richard E. Leakey</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/leon-lederman-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Leon Lederman, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/robert-lefkowitz-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert J. Lefkowitz, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/congressman-john-r-lewis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Congressman John R. Lewis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/maya-lin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Maya Lin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/george-lucas/"><span class="achiever-list-name">George Lucas</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/norman-mailer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Norman Mailer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/peyton-manning/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peyton Manning</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wynton-marsalis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wynton Marsalis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/john-c-mather-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John C. Mather, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/johnny-mathis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Johnny Mathis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ernst-mayr-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ernst Mayr, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/willie-mays/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Willie Mays</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frank-mccourt/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank McCourt</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/david-mccullough/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David McCullough</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/audra-mcdonald/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Audra McDonald</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/admiral-william-h-mcraven/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral William H. McRaven, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/w-s-merwin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">W. S. Merwin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-a-michener/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James A. Michener</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/marvin-minsky-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Marvin Minsky, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/mario-j-molina-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mario J. Molina, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/n-scott-momaday-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">N. Scott Momaday, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/story-musgrave/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Story Musgrave, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ralph-nader/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ralph Nader</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/peggy-noonan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peggy Noonan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jessye-norman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jessye Norman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/tommy-norris/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/joyce-carol-oates/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Joyce Carol Oates</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/pierre-omidyar/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Pierre Omidyar</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jimmy-page/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jimmy Page</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/larry-page/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Larry Page</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/arnold-palmer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Arnold Palmer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/leon-panetta/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Leon Panetta</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/rosa-parks/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Rosa Parks</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/suzan-lori-parks/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Suzan-Lori Parks</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/linus-pauling/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Linus C. Pauling, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/shimon-peres/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Shimon Peres</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/itzhak-perlman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Itzhak Perlman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-david-petraeus/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General David H. Petraeus, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sidney-poitier/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sidney Poitier</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-colin-l-powell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General Colin L. Powell, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/harold-prince/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Harold Prince</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/venki-ramakrishnan-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Venki Ramakrishnan, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lord-martin-rees/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lord Martin Rees</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/lloyd-richards/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lloyd Richards</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sally-ride-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sally K. Ride, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sonny-rollins/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sonny Rollins</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/anthony-romero/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony Romero</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-rosenquist/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Rosenquist</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/pete-rozelle/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Pete Rozelle</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/bill-russell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Bill Russell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/albie-sachs/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Albie Sachs</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/oliver-sacks-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Oliver Sacks, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jonas-salk-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jonas Salk, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/frederick-sanger-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frederick Sanger, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/george-b-schaller-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">George B. 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Smith</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/stephen-sondheim/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen Sondheim</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/sonia-sotomayor/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sonia Sotomayor</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/wole-soyinka/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wole Soyinka</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/esperanza-spalding/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Esperanza Spalding</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/martha-stewart/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Martha Stewart</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20181007205110/http://www.achievement.org/achiever/admiral-james-b-stockdale/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral James B. 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