NEW ORLEANS — Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who played a major role in keeping the Saints in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, has died. He was a guiding light in the dark days after the storm, which damaged or destroyed around 80% of the buildings in New Orleans 20 years ago, including the Superdome.

Longtime friend and Superdome Vice President Doug Thornton said Tagliabue was quick to recognize Katrina as a human tragedy and understood the importance of the Saints in the city's rebuilding.

"There were questions as to whether or not the market would even recover at that time,” Thornton said. “Certainly, there were questions about the Superdome, and we hadn't even started the renovations. We were still trying to figure out the scope of the work or where the money would come

See Full Page