Upshaw Leaves Legacy As NFLPA Exec Dir

The sudden death of NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw, who has led the union since ’83, has left the sports industry stunned today. Upshaw died last night at his home in Lake Tahoe of pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed only last Sunday, according to the NFLPA. As expected, tributes are already pouring in. Roger Goodell said Upshaw “did everything with great dignity, pride, and conviction." Paul Tagliabue called him “very tough but also a good listener. He never lost sight of the interests of the game and the big picture.” Jeffrey Kessler said he was “a leader without peers.” ESPN Chris Mortensen: “He was a man who rose from great poverty to being one of the most powerful men in the National Football League. ... If you identify perhaps the five important figures in NFL history, Gene Upshaw will be among them.”

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