Susan Tose-Spencer, the former [Eagles](https://www.nj.com/eagles/) executive who became the NFL’s first female vice president and general manager, died March 24, her family said in a press release. She was 83 years old.
Tose-Spencer, the daughter of former Philadelphia Eagles owner Leonard Tose, was a teacher and a lawyer before she joined the team in 1980 as legal counsel. She was promoted to vice president in 1982, becoming the first woman in NFL history to hold that title. She later served as general manager in 1983 and 1984, which also made history.
In her new role, Tose-Spencer was tasked with helping the team recover from financial struggles. A 2023 article by The Athletic’s [Dan Pompei](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3151505/2022/03/08/susan-tose-spencer-the-first-woman-to-run-an-nfl-teams-front-office-was-villainized-despite-smart-work-with-the-eagles/) reported that in 1983, the Eagles had $33 million in liabilities, while Tose carried $9.1 million in personal debt. She also negotiated player contracts. Her decisions helped get the team out of debt.
“We all knew she was the decision-maker when it came to the direction the franchise was going,” former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski told Pompei. “Leonard gave her the authority to turn the thing around.”
Tose-Spencer also explored relocating the team to Arizona in 1984, though the move never happened. She was later involved in the deal that sold the team to Norman Braman in 1985 for $65 million. Since Tose-Spencer, there has not been a female general manager to lead a team.
A press release stated that Tose-Spencer will be inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on September 18.
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_Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com._