THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- The Fritz Pollard Alliance has created the Paul J. Tagliabue Award of Excellence in honour of the former NFL commissioner.
The award goes to a league or team executive who demonstrates the integrity and leadership Tagliabue exhibited in career development opportunities for minority candidates and advocacy for diversity on the league and club level, the alliance announced Wednesday.
The presentation will take place during Super Bowl week next month.
The alliance cited Tagliabue's influence in 2002 on the formation of the league's first diversity committee of owners, chaired by Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Within two months, a diversity plan was introduced that mandated each NFL team interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach.
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