David Doty, the federal judge who oversaw the landmark lawsuit that established the NFL’s current labor framework, has died just days shy of his 97th birthday. As Minnesota’s longest-serving federal judge, he presided over the 1987 case initiated by Reggie White and others, which led to the transformative 1993 Collective Bargaining Agreement, introducing free agency and the salary cap. This agreement fundamentally changed the NFL, creating a dynamic offseason and enabling the league’s dominance in sports. Judge Doty’s influence on the NFL’s labor model has left a lasting legacy on player transactions and league operations.
