Rozelle, Alvin Ray

▪ 1997

      ("PETE"), U.S. sports executive (b. March 1, 1926, South Gate, Calif.—d. Dec. 6, 1996, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), as commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) for nearly 30 years, instituted a number of changes that made professional football the most widely followed sport in the United States. He oversaw more than a doubling of the number of teams in the league, negotiated the most lucrative television sports contract, introduced Monday night football on TV, and—most notably—created the Super Bowl. Rozelle graduated (1950) from the University of San Francisco, stayed there two more years to be assistant athletic director, and then served as publicity director for the Los Angeles Rams (1952-55), a partner in a San Francisco public relations firm (1955-57), and general manager of the Rams (1957-60). In 1960 he became the compromise choice for NFL commissioner on the 23rd ballot after the team owners deadlocked. Rozelle thereupon moved NFL headquarters to New York City and set about to improve the relationship between football and television. He convinced team owners that they would benefit from collective negotiation of TV rights and equal sharing of revenue and led the lobbying effort that persuaded Congress to exempt this action from antitrust restrictions. After the rival American Football League flourished, Rozelle arranged a game between the league champions that became the Super Bowl. He then negotiated a merger of the two leagues, effective in 1970. Rozelle also set up a program of fines and suspensions for gambling violations, and he aided the effort to combat alcohol and drug abuse. Rozelle was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and retired as commissioner in 1989.

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