An NFL icon and one of the most influential owners in the league died Thursday. Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, father of the “Rooney Rule” passed away at 84. The Steelers and the Rooney family have not released any details about what took his life.
“Few men have contributed as much to the National Football League as Dan Rooney,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was one of the finest men in the history of our game and it was a privilege to work alongside him for so many years. Dan’s dedication to the game, to the players and coaches, to his beloved Pittsburgh, and to Steelers fans everywhere was unparalleled. He was a role model and trusted colleague to commissioners since Bert Bell, countless NFL owners, and so many others in and out of the NFL. A voice of reason on a wide range of topics, including diversity and labor relations, Dan always had the league’s best interests at heart. For my part, Dan’s friendship and counsel were both inspiring and irreplaceable. My heart goes out to Patricia, Art, and the entire Rooney family on the loss of this extraordinary man.”
The all time best photo of Dan Rooney. RIP Mr. Rooney @Ike_SwagginU pic.twitter.com/GHRKQhntEu
— Randy Baumann (@DVERandy) April 13, 2017
Dan Rooney took over operations for the Steelers from his father Art in 1969, hired Chuck Knoll as head coach, and created one of the gold standard organizations in the NFL. Since Dan Rooney took over the team, the Steelers have won six Super Bowls and played in eight across multiple decades. Since 2003 Rooney has served as the Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, an office his father held once Dan had taken over as President in 1975. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
While keeping active in the Steelers organization Rooney managed to be the United States Ambassador to Ireland under former president Barack Obama from 2009-2012.
RIP Dan Rooney. You won't find many white men born in 1932 in the US that dedicated themselves to combatting racism. Truly one for the ages!
— Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) April 13, 2017
Rooney will live on not just as a Steelers legend, but in the NFL rulebook. As chairman of the NFL’s diversity committee, Rooney crafted a rule that forced NFL teams to at least interview minority candidates before settling on a head coach. At the time the rule was implemented in 2002, only six non-white head coaches had ever held a job in the history of the NFL. IN 2009, the rule was expanded to include all senior football operations positions int he NFL.
“Dan Rooney was a great friend of mine, but more importantly, he was a great friend to the people of Pittsburgh, a model citizen, and someone who represented the United States with dignity and grace on the world stage,” Barack Obama said in a statement. “I knew he’d do a wonderful job when I named him as our United States Ambassador to Ireland, but naturally, he surpassed my high expectations, and I know the people of Ireland think fondly of him today. And I know the people of Pittsburgh, who loved him not only for the Super Bowl championships he brought as the owner of the Steelers, but for his generosity of spirit, mourn his passing today. Michelle and I offer our condolences to the Rooney family, some of the most gracious and thoughtful people we know — even as we celebrate the life of Dan Rooney: a championship-caliber good man.”
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 13, 2017
Other NFL news
The Tennessee Titans cut cornerback Jason McCourty Thursday. McCourty was in the final year of his current contract and due $7 million the Titans will now get to spend elsewhere. Last year McCourty started 14 games for the Titans, recording 67 tackles, one fumble recovery, 12 pass defendes and two interceptions. Jason’s twin brother Devin plays for the New England Patriots and that looks like, to me, a natural landing spot.
Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins seemingly has been in the free agent rumor mill as much as Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson. He can finally get out of it after signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts Thursday. The Colts deal beats the New York Giants’s offer, Hankins’ former team, by $2 million. Last year Hankins started all 16 games for the Giants, recording 43 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble.
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