POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned is a director and/or officer of The Progressive
Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"), certain
securities of which are registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act").  The
undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints Charles E.
Jarrett, Dane A. Shrallow, Michael R. Uth and David M. Coffey,
and each of them, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in
my name, place and stead, as my attorney-in-fact and agent, to sign
any and all Forms 3, 4 and 5, or successor forms, and any and all
amendments or supplements thereto, in order to report, pursuant to
Section 16(a) of the Act, the number of the Common Shares and other
securities (including any derivative securities) of the Corporation
beneficially owned by the undersigned, or any change in the number
of Shares or other securities of the Corporation so owned by the
undersigned or in the nature of such ownership, and to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange
the required number of copies of such form or forms, or any such
amendments or supplements, pursuant to and in accordance with the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the New York Stock Exchange giving and granting unto
each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do
and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever necessary or
appropriate to be done in or about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if
personally present, hereby ratifying and approving all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or any such substitute
or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney on the 15th day of October, 2004.


/s/ Patrick H. Nettles
Patrick H. Nettles, Ph.D.