David Doty, who served as a U.S. District Judge, has died at the age of 96. He was well-known for his involvement in various NFL labor matters in his Minneapolis courtroom.
Doty's most notable contribution came in 1992 when he issued a ruling that played a crucial role in establishing modern free agency within the league.
His legal decisions have had a lasting impact on the NFL and its labor relations, marking him as a significant figure in sports law.
Updates
Update at 04:39 UTC on 2026-07-02
ESPN NFL reported David Doty, the U.S. District Judge who directed numerous NFL labor matters in his Minneapolis courtroom and made a 1992 ruling that paved the way for modern free agency, has died at age 96.
Sources: ESPN NFL