BALTIMORE — Art Modell’s fingerprints can still be found all over the NFL.

In Baltimore. In Cleveland. On Monday night football. On past labor agreements.

Along with colleagues named Rozelle, Halas, Brown and Rooney — all pillars of a fledgling league — Modell helped transform the NFL into America’s pre-eminent sport.

The former Ravens owner died early Thursday, leaving behind a legacy that was unblemished save for one decision that hounded him the rest of his life: moving his team from Cleveland to Baltimore.