The N.F.L. took its first steps toward finding a new commissioner Monday, but the search could take most of the off-season. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who announced last week that he would retire by the end of July, said that a committee of owners that would recommend a new commissioner might not be appointed before the league's annual meetings end Wednesday afternoon. In an effort to avoid the perception that there is an anointed successor, a search firm will be hired to interview the 32 owners about the qualities they want in a commissioner. "It's not a race for speed, it's a race for success," said Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles' owner. "When you're going to be the C.E.O. of a 32-team operation, it's not speed, it's quality."