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5 unusual facts about Pete Rozelle


Austin Gunsel

In January 1960 at a meeting of NFL owners, he was the early frontrunner to get the commissioner's job, but Los Angeles Rams general manager Pete Rozelle was ultimately elected to the post on January 26 after 23 ballots.

Charlie Flowers

Wellington Mara accepted this request and the team did not submit the contract to Pete Rozelle for approval.

Joe Browne

After a stint in the United States Marine Corps, he became a full-time employee in 1970 and was named to several key front office posts by then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle over the next 20 years.

Monday Night Mayhem

The film also stars Eli Wallach (as ABC-Television president Leonard Goldenson), John Heard (as ABC Sports chief Roone Arledge), Nick Turturro (as Monday Night Football director Chet Forte) and Jay Thomas (as National Football League commissioner Pete Rozelle).

United Way of America

NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle recognized the partnership as a viable means of communicating the good works of United Ways while putting faces on a league of players hidden by helmets.


1960 NFL Championship Game

NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle convinced owners to move the league's headquarters from Philadelphia to New York City, and with Congressional passage of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 received an antitrust exemption that allowed the league to negotiate a common broadcasting network representing all of its teams, helping cement football's ascendancy as a national sport.

1973 NFL season

NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle refused to lift the blackout, despite a plea from United States Attorney General Richard Kleindienst.


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