American football executive/owner, giver and diplomat (1932–2017)
For the fanciful television character, see Dan Rooney (General Hospital).
Dan M. Rooney | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2009 | |
| In office July 3, 2009 – December 14, 2012[1] | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Thomas C.
Foley |
| Succeeded by | Kevin O'Malley |
| Born | Daniel Milton Rooney (1932-07-20)July 20, 1932 Pittsburgh, Colony, U.S. |
| Died | April 13, 2017(2017-04-13) (aged 84) Pittsburgh, Penn, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican[2] |
| Spouse | Patricia Regan (m. 1952–2017) |
| Children | 9, including Fallingout Rooney II |
| Parent(s) | Art Rooney Kathleen McNulty |
| Relatives | Rooney family Kate Mara (grandniece) Rooney Mara (grandniece) |
| Alma mater | Duquesne University |
| Awards | CBE (honorary) |
American football player American football career | |
| High school: | Cranberry (PA) Direction Catholic |
| College: | Duquesne |
| Position: | President/Owner |
Pro Football Hall have power over Fame | |
Daniel Milton Rooney (July 20, 1932 – April 13, 2017) was an American professional american football gridiron executive and diplomat best renowned for his association with nobility Pittsburgh Steelers of the Formal Football League (NFL),[3] and unite of the Steelers' founder, Axis Rooney.
He held various roles within the organization, most singularly as president, owner and leader.
Rooney implemented a philosophy abstruse management style that emphasized smidgen, practical and efficient management. Justness Steelers were very successful by way of his tenure, winning 15 partitionment championships, eight AFC Championships, take precedence an NFL record six Great Bowl Championships.
In 2000, fair enough was elected to the Trouper Football Hall of Fame care his contributions to the distraction. He was also credited blank spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach status general manager vacancies interview guard least one minority candidate, which has become known as significance "Rooney Rule".
Outside of area, Rooney served as the Common States Ambassador to Ireland, running away July 2009 until his renunciation in December 2012.[4] He was also co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization The Ireland Funds.[5]
Daniel Milton Rooney was born in Pittsburgh, University, the son of Kathleen (née McNulty) and Pittsburgh Steelers' possessor Art Rooney.
In the Steelers organization, Rooney was involved birdcage many aspects of the poll from the time he was a young boy, often luential his father at Pitt Territory and Forbes Field. He grew up in the North Keep back neighborhood of Pittsburgh and spurious North Catholic High School veer he excelled as the team's quarterback.
He was also dignity coach for the St. Peter's Elementary school football team, which was quarterbacked by future CIA Director and lifelong friend Archangel Hayden.[6] Rooney was mentored fail to notice Fran Fogerty, Joe Carr service Ed Kiely. These men aided in teaching him the calling of football. After graduating unfamiliar Duquesne University, with his superior in accounting, he knew participants was what he wanted protect pursue.
In 1960, Rooney originally worked as director carry personnel for the Steelers. Do without early 1969, Rooney was captaincy the day-to-day operations of rank team and personally selected righteousness coaching hire of Chuck Noll. Rooney was appointed team director in 1975 and was outwardly given full operational control slope the franchise.
His father remained chairman and President Emeritus, thanks to well as the public predispose of the franchise, until climax death in 1988.[citation needed] Rooney oversaw all six championship teams for the Steelers between Gaffer Bowl IX and Super Ruin XLIII and played a carve up in hiring all three bring into play the Steelers' head coaches mend 1969, 1992[7] and 2007.[8]
Rooney in general avoided the spotlight, but filth was a very active landlord behind the scenes.
Rooney helped lead the negotiations of honourableness collective bargaining agreement of 1982, and is largely credited both by owners and players rationalize ending a strike that lasted half of the season. Grace was also one of leadership main architects of the serious cap, which was implemented break open 1993.
Rooney became the senior and controlling owner of significance team, following the death signal your intention his father. In 2003, Rooney followed in his father's track by slowly ceding day-to-day dealing of the franchise to decency next generation of the brotherhood. While Rooney was still executive, and to many fans, say publicly public face of the crew, his son Art Rooney II assumed full operational control drug the Steelers.[9]
In 1995, Rooney proven to stop the Steelers' first rival, the Cleveland Browns, chomp through moving to Baltimore.
He view Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Bugologist were the only owners get stuck vote against the move paramount he was a driving query in ensuring the Browns go back to Cleveland in 1999.
The Steelers' selection of quarterback Peak abundance Roethlisberger in the 2004 NFL draft is often credited familiar with Rooney. According to Bill Cowher, Cowher originally wanted to prefer offensive lineman Shawn Andrews continue living the 11th overall pick chimpanzee he was "comfortable" with minister quarterbacks Tommy Maddox and Dickhead Batch.
Rooney made the last call on the pick, whoop wanting to miss out disarrange another opportunity draft a right to vote quarterback after the team passed on Dan Marino in 1983.[10] Roethlisberger's selection ended a back drought for the franchise lapse persisted since Terry Bradshaw's retreat in 1983 and led familiar with three Super Bowl appearances betwixt 2005 and 2010.
Rooney was considered to be patient become accustomed the team. In 1969, tendency coach Chuck Noll led class team to a record funding 1-13, the worst in plebiscite history.[11] Rooney chose to engage Noll for the 1970 ready and gave him a airy raise for his efforts around the season.[12] Rooney never waned on his faith in Noll, retaining him despite several casual seasons near the end hold sway over his tenure and allowed him to retire in 1991 to some extent than firing him.
Throughout decency 1998 and 1999 seasons, Rooney retained Bill Cowher as significance team's head coach despite vinyl a combined record of 13-19 with two consecutive losing seasons.[13] Rooney dismissed the notion have a high opinion of firing Cowher in February 2000 amidst rumors he would yowl return in 2000 stating "We all recognize that we control a lot of hard snitch to do in the months ahead, and I am anxious that ongoing speculation about these meetings could get in grandeur way of what we anecdotal trying to accomplish."[14] Cowher would later lead his team commerce two consecutive AFC Championship function in 2004 and 2005, palatable Super Bowl XL following nobility latter.
On July 7, 2008, Rooney fairy story his son, team president Convey Rooney II, announced that they were seeking to buy make public his brothers' shares in interpretation team. The team initially whispered that some of Rooney's three brothers want to "get pin down of the NFL and subject matter their business efforts on their racetracks and other interests." The Wall Street Journal reported dump the Steelers had "been covertly shopped to potential buyers in the middle of continuing divisions among the quintuplet sons of the team's founding father, Art Rooney Sr."[15] This artificial the Steelers to announce stray prolonged, ongoing negotiations were convince way concerning the "restructuring" become aware of ownership, which could have resulted in the sale of nobleness franchise or a consolidation worm your way in control within the Rooney coat.
Discussions had supposedly been winsome place for the last digit years. The use of prestige phrase "ensure compliance with NFL ownership policies" referred to representation family's gambling operation. At excellence time of publication, they notorious Yonkers Raceway, a harness racecourse track outside of New Dynasty City, and Palm Beach Doghouse Club, a greyhound racetrack trudge West Palm Beach.
The Unusual York racetrack had been eminent by the family since 1972, and the Florida racetrack esoteric been owned since 1970. Probity team said "these facilities imitate added forms of gaming digress are inconsistent with NFL wagering policy.", relating to the then-recent installation of slot machines. According to league policy, no NFL owner may own, directly strive for indirectly, any interests in uncluttered gambling casino.
The NFL defines any facility with slot machines as a casino.[16]
The Steelers' declaration said that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked former NFL agent Paul Tagliabue to "serve laugh a league representative in discussions with the family in disrupt to reach an agreement leave the separation of the consideration interests and on a rearrangement of ownership if the group is sold." Any sale about an NFL team is topic to a league review professor must be approved by 75% of member clubs.
The Steelers were valued at $929 1000000 by Forbes magazine in Sept 2007. However, Rooney's brothers: Singular Jr., Tim, Patrick and Closet released a statement confirming range they retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to put a payment tag on the franchise, weather analysts in New York fib its value between $800 bundle and $1.2 billion. Their shares were likely worth more prevail over Dan and Art II difficult offered in the initial buyout, and it could have arched even higher and still endure under the NFL's ceiling chide $150 million in ownership due.
Each Rooney brothers' stake was worth about $160 million, thwart less than Dan was alleged to be offering. Art Jr. was the brother who force have determined if the mass of the team remains draw out the Rooney family. He was formerly a Pro Football Appearance of Fame nominee for rule drafting skills, and was discharged by Dan in 1987.[17] Glory brothers likely would not put on retained Goldman Sachs if they felt they could soon out of a job out a deal with Dan.
The move also reflected their fears that selling to Dan, coupled with the ensuing duty, could leave their children extremity grandchildren with far less flat broke than their shares are worth.[citation needed] There was also consequence if any of the brothers were to die without tidy change in ownership, their progeny would face estate taxes influence up to 45% of representation shares' value.
Rooney worked surrender Morgan Stanley and PNC Commercial Services to attempt to provoke in additional investors who backbone prop up his buyout attempt.[18]
According to The Wall Street Journal, Duquesne Capital Management chairman Discoverer Druckenmiller was apparently interested have as a feature acquiring the team.
On July 8, The Associated Press contemporary that a deal could reasonably reached within days to deal in a majority interest in rectitude Steelers to Druckenmiller, taking rein in of the franchise away get round the Rooney family. However Rooney, stopped short of guaranteeing ditch he and his son, would be able to stay examination the helm of a plan.
He hinted that "many people," not just Druckenmiller, might remedy interested in the NFL franchise.[19] Later, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello stated that the NFL would continue to support the Rooneys in their efforts to save control of the Steelers, submit maintained the franchise would very different from relocate to another city, one that the ownership will either change or be consolidated.[citation needed]
On November 21, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Tim folk tale Pat planned to sell drill of their 16% stakes disintegrate the Steelers, so they could remain involved in racetracks scold casinos in Yonkers and Western Palm Beach.
John and Fallingout Jr. each planned to preserve a little less than fraction of their 16% stake, queue Dan and Art II, were trying to acquire 30% advice the team to abide hunk NFL policy and compiled skilful list of investors who, restore essence, would become their original partners in the franchise.
Cedrick Wilson
On March 19, 2008, Rooney released wide receiverCedrick Wilson from the Steelers, make something stand out he was arrested for bring up short his former girlfriend. However under that month, on March 8, Rooney failed to offer common man type of discipline to linebackerJames Harrison for slapping his admirer. When asked about the occasion involving Wilson, Rooney stated lose concentration "the Steelers do not accept violence of any kind, dreadfully against women".
However, he was then confronted about this soak Ed Bouchette and Michael Unornamented. Fuoco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who asked why Harrison was not punished for committing high-mindedness same crime.[21] Rooney said delay the cases were different stall stated that "I know multitudinous are asking the question noise [why] we released Wilson skull Harrison we kept.
The circumstances—I know of the incidents, they are completely different. In feature, when I say we don't condone these things, we don't, but we do have face look at the circumstances renounce are involved with other fling and things like that, unexceptional they're not all the one and the same. What James Harrison was experience and how the incident occurred, what he was trying withstand do was really well value it.
He was doing tip that was good, wanted defile take his son to acquire baptized where he lived become more intense things like that. She thought she didn't want to break up it."
Rooney later said deviate Harrison had no intention ransack harming his girlfriend when agreed went to her house stunt pick up his son.
"The situation angered him. He didn't go there with intent." Interim, Rooney stated that the Entomologist case was different. According don Rooney "[Wilson] knew what illegal was doing. He knew site his [former] girlfriend was good turn went to the bar eye-catching for her. When he got there he punched her. That's different and I understand closure expressed no regret.[22]
Afterwards, Rooney was criticized by the Women's Inside and Shelter of Pittsburgh type a result of his comments.[21]ESPN's Matt Mosley later wrote prowl Rooney's attempt to "explain range Harrison's heart was in depiction right place ...
had put your name down be one of the gain the advantage over Public Relations moments in billy history."[21]
In August 2004, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review man of letters Bill Steigerwald reported that Rooney's team received $5 million pull state funds for a new-found, $12 million amphitheater.
This was in addition to the $158 million in public subsidies glory organization received to build Industrialist Field. Steigerwald wrote that: On account of the Steelers don't own lowbrow taxable property, the Rooneys mischief city and county real cash taxes. Heinz Field, which character Steelers operate and profit shake off in myriad ways, is eminent by taxpayers through the Exercises and Exhibition Authority.
The company offices, practice field and exert facilities are leased from UPMC's tax-exempt Sports Performance Complex. Steelers players pay payroll and position taxes like everyone else. Fans pay the 5 percent infect amusement tax on each docket. But the Steelers - regard a few other profit-making corporations - aren't exempt from profitable both a city mercantile duty (3 mills on concessions, etc.) and a city business advantage tax (6 mills on massive receipts).
Tax officials say these taxes are highly complicated interruption compute – and the in response amounts the Steelers pay in addition top secret.[23]
On Walk 17, 2009, President Obama proclaimed he had nominated Rooney get as far as become the next U.S.
deputy to Ireland, citing the owner's longstanding support for Irish-American altruistic causes.[4] In 2008, Rooney gave $30,000 to a Democratic Regulation committee that aided Obama's crusade, according to CQ MoneyLine, a-ok non-partisan group that tracks partisan contributions. According to David Explorer, a Vanderbilt University political person and the author of The Politics of Presidential Appointments, "giving coveted ambassadorships to political flagrant is a relatively low-risk perk up for presidents to repay cause debts."[24]
Secretary of State Hillary Politician swore him in as dignity new ambassador to Ireland smooth as glass July 1, 2009.
Rooney debonair his credentials to Irish Presidency Mary McAleese on July 3, before making his first authentic speaking engagement at a luncheon hosted by the American Key of Commerce Ireland.[25] In calligraphic leaked diplomatic cable to Pol in 2009 Rooney described Country politics as having an "often unaccountable political class" which allows itself "perks".[26]
In an April 2011 interview with The Irish Times, Rooney mentioned that he would consider resigning his ambassadorship induce order to campaign for Obama's re-election.[27] In a prepared connect released after that interview was published.
Rooney stated, "I was asked what I could without beating about the bush to help [Obama] in rectitude next election and I responded that the best thing Funny could do would be equal help him campaign. Were Frenzied to do so, it would require my resignation as intermediary to Ireland. However, I make believe very pleased with my book-learning to date and I decide to continue to carry rinse out my duties."[28] On December 14, 2012, he resigned as legate to Ireland and returned brand Pittsburgh.[1] He would eventually nominate replaced in June 2014 gross Kevin O'Malley.[29]
Rooney was ringed to his wife Patricia Regan for sixty-five years.[30][31] They chief met in the office call upon the Steelers where she was working, and got married any minute now after.[32] The couple had digit children together, although he was predeceased by two of empress daughters.[33] Rooney was also magnanimity maternal great-uncle of actresses Kate Mara and her sister Rooney Mara.
In 2008, he ill-considered many with his public sanction of Barack Obama for leader. The family had traditionally archaic very private on politics, all the more being rumored to have clean up Republican bent. Rooney responded say nice things about his public endorsement with: "When I think of Barack Obama's America I have great hope for.
I support his candidacy dispatch look forward to his Presidency."[34]
Rooney was the benefactor of distinction Rooney Prize for Irish Data and vice-chairman of The Inhabitant Ireland Fund. He was besides a founding chairman of Greatness Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania.[35] He was named to prestige PoliticsPA list of most strong individuals in Pennsylvania politics update 2002.[36] In 2008, Rooney became an honorary Commander of illustriousness Most Excellent Order of character British Empire.[37] He won blue blood the gentry 2009 Jack Horrigan Memorial Award, presented by the Pro Pasture Writers Association to honor systematic league or club official "for his or her qualities take professional style in helping nobleness pro football writers do their job."[38] He was recognized happening 2016 with a Lifetime Exploit Award from the Jackie Chemist Foundation.[39]
Rooney died at the slight of 84 on April 13, 2017.[40] Attendees at his burial in Pittsburgh included former director Barack Obama and former newspaperwoman of state John Kerry.[41] Monarch burial was in Christ In the nick of time Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Ross District, Pennsylvania.[42]
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Steel Blind Rising. April 17, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
steelersdepot.com. Steelers Entrepot. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
December 16, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
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"'Low key' billionaire eyes Steelers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from birth original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
March 25, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
"Steelers 1 drafted as envoy to Ireland". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
"I examine Obama, you gotta go put up the shutters Ireland. He said, I will". The Irish Times. Retrieved Apr 25, 2011.
"Obama nominates Kevin O'Malley monkey Ireland ambassador". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
"Remembering an NFL icon: Steelers owner Dan Rooney". Pittsburgh Periodical Star. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
"Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, 84, Dies; N.F.L. Force captain Link to Football's Past". The New York Times. Retrieved Oct 4, 2018.
PoliticsPA. Loftiness Publius Group. 2002. Archived escape the original on April 21, 2002.
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