Background and career
Paul Rabil (born December 14, 1985) is an American sports executive and retired professional lacrosse player. He is the president of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), which he co-founded with his brother, league CEO Mike Rabil. Rabil played collegiate lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University. He won All-America honors all four years and holds the record for most playoff goals, assists, and points. He won two championships in 2005 and 2007. In 2007, he won the McLaughlin Award as the nation's best midfielder, and was inducted into the Johns Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. Rabil played professional lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) for eleven years from 2008 to 2018, when he cofounded the PLL. He played in the PLL for three years, from 2019 to 2021. He won the MLL Offensive Player of the Year Award three times, in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and the MLL MVP Award twice, in 2009 and 2011. He won the MLL Championship twice, in 2011 and in 2015. In 2021, he was 1st team all-pro. Rabil holds the record for most career points in professional lacrosse, scoring 657 points seasons across 14 seasons. Rabil is considered one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time.
Paul Rabil was born on December 14, 1985, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to Allan and Jean Anne Rabil, his mother was a Catholic school art teacher; his father, who worked in sales for a printing company, encouraged his son to try many sports. He is of Lebanese descent through his great-grandfather. He grew up in Montgomery Village and completed his education at a local public school. During his childhood, Rabil pursued a variety of interests and extracurricular activities. Along with playing basketball, soccer, and swimming, he inclined toward music and learned to play several musical instruments. Rabil's mother insisted that he stick with lacrosse, and he fell in love with the game. Throughout his elementary and middle school years he continued playing lacrosse.
At Watkins Mill High School, Rabil secured a spot as a starting player on the varsity team during his freshman year. Attracting interest from several local private high schools, Rabil transferred to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland after participating in a summer tournament with the school's team. During Rabil's three-year tenure at Dematha, he led the team to three Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championships and a record of 49–16. Rabil amassed 288 career total points, including 80 goals and 73 assists in his two final seasons. Rabil was also awarded for his efforts as he was named 2-time All-American, 2-time All-State selection, and the #4 ranked prospect in the high school class of 2004. Following attention from lacrosse programs nationwide, Rabil ultimately chose to commit to Johns Hopkins University, attributing his decision to the exceptional leadership of Coach Dave Pietramala, as well as the program's legacy of championships and culture.
Rabil began his academic career at Johns Hopkins University in the Fall of 2004. Attending a prestigious university and keeping up with the educational course load was an initial struggle for Rabil. Rabil has a condition called auditory processing disorder, which makes it more difficult for individuals to process auditory information. Despite his struggles in the classroom, Rabil's Johns Hopkins lacrosse career began in the spring of 2005. In 2005, Rabil had a notable freshman season, tallying 37 points on 23 goals and 14 assists. This effort earned Rabil Third Team All-American honors and aided in securing Johns Hopkins the national championship. Rabil continued his successful start in 2006 during his sophomore season, scoring 25 goals and 13 assists. Rabil earned First Team All-American Honors, as well as being a finalist for the 2006 Tewaaraton Award. Despite Rabil's efforts, Johns Hopkins lost to Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. As an upperclassman, Rabil tallied 27 goals and 26 assists for a total of 53 points in his junior season. Rabil was awarded First Team All-American honors for the second consecutive year, the McLaughlin Award, and was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award. Rabil led the program to its ninth national title, defeating Duke University 12–11 in the National Championship game. In his senior season, Rabil scored 36 goals and had 14 assists for 50 total points. Rabil earned First Team All-American Honors for the third consecutive season, but missed out on another title as Johns Hopkins lost to Syracuse in the 2008 National Championship game. Ultimately, Rabil graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2008 majoring in political science and minoring in entrepreneurship and management.
Rabil was selected 1st overall by the Boston Cannons in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft. In Rabil's Rookie season of 2008, Rabil participated in the MLL All-Star Game after immediately making an impact on the Cannons' offense. In 2009, Rabil added an MLL MVP and MLL Offensive Player of the Year, as well as participating in his second consecutive MLL All-Star Game. In Rabil's third season in 2010, he made his third consecutive All-Star Game, while being named a member of the First Team All-Pro MLL Team. Rabil earned the MLL MVP and MLL Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career in 2011, while leading Cannon's to their first MLL championship in franchise history in the 2011 season. In 2012 during Rabil's sixth professional season, he broke the all-time points record at 72 points in a season. In doing this, Paul earned his third overall and second consecutive MLL Offensive Player of the Year. In 2014, Rabil continued his success adding his seventh consecutive All-Star game and sixth consecutive MLL All-Pro First Team Selection. In 2015, Rabil was traded to the New York Lizards in a package deal that included Cannon's midfielder Mike Stone for Max Seibal and MLL Collegiate Draft Picks. Rabil finished the remainder of his career in the MLL with the New York Lizards. With the New York Lizards, he won his second and final MLL championship in 2015, where he was named the playoff's MVP. Rabil left the MLL in 2018 to found the Premier Lacrosse League with his brother, Mike.
Rabil also participated in the NLL, after being drafted second overall in the 2008 National Lacrosse League entry draft by San Jose Stealth. Scoring 16 goals and 18 assists for a total of 34 points, Paul was named to the 2009 All-Rookie Team in his initial season. In 2009, the San Jose Stealth moved to Washington State, becoming the Washington Stealth. In 2010, Rabil scored 11 goals and had 26 assists leading the Washington Stealth to an NLL Championship. In 2012, Rabil was eventually traded to the Edmonton Rush for Athan Ianucci. However, Rabil wished to move closer to his home in Maryland, therefore, did not report to Edmonton and sat out the rest of the 2012 NLL Season. Rabil was then traded to the Rochester Knighthawks in exchange for Jarret Davice, however, again did not report to training. Soon after, he was traded to the Philadelphia Wings for Dan Dawson, Paul Dawson, and a first-round draft pick. In 2013, Rabil played his last and final season in the NLL with the Philadelphia Wings scoring 17 goals and having 21 assists for a total of 38 points.
