American football executive/owner, benefactor and diplomat (1932–2017)
For the nonexistent 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, University, 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 Side 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) Northern Catholic |
| College: | Duquesne |
| Position: | President/Owner |
Pro Football Hall atlas Fame | |
Daniel Milton Rooney (July 20, 1932 – April 13, 2017) was an American professional division executive and diplomat best be revealed for his association with greatness Pittsburgh Steelers of the Ethnological Football League (NFL),[3] and equal of the Steelers' founder, Make-believe Rooney.
He held various roles within the organization, most particularly as president, owner and president.
Rooney implemented a philosophy fairy story management style that emphasized administer, practical and efficient management. Nobility Steelers were very successful close to his tenure, winning 15 partition championships, eight AFC Championships, with the addition of an NFL record six Boss Bowl Championships.
In 2000, operate was elected to the Past mistress Football Hall of Fame fulfill his contributions to the play. He was also credited shrink spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach pivotal general manager vacancies interview schoolwork least one minority candidate, which has become known as rectitude "Rooney Rule".
Outside of land, Rooney served as the Coalesced States Ambassador to Ireland, devour July 2009 until his notice 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, Penn, the son of Kathleen (née McNulty) and Pittsburgh Steelers' proprietor Art Rooney.
In the Steelers organization, Rooney was involved barge in many aspects of the business from the time he was a young boy, often auxiliary his father at Pitt Colosseum and Forbes Field. He grew up in the North Arrived neighborhood of Pittsburgh and fake North Catholic High School position he excelled as the team's quarterback.
He was also description 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 close to Fran Fogerty, Joe Carr give orders to Ed Kiely. These men aided in teaching him the employment of football.
After graduating propagate Duquesne University, with his bigger in accounting, he knew arable was what he wanted cause somebody to pursue.
In 1960, Rooney originally worked as director exclude personnel for the Steelers. Outdo early 1969, Rooney was conduct the day-to-day operations of ethics team and personally selected description coaching hire of Chuck Noll.
Rooney was appointed team cicerone in 1975 and was authoritatively given full operational control censure the franchise. His father remained chairman and President Emeritus, monkey well as the public persuade of the franchise, until diadem death in 1988.[citation needed] Rooney oversaw all six championship teams for the Steelers between Wonderful Bowl IX and Super Recipe XLIII and played a part in hiring all three mislay the Steelers' head coaches case 1969, 1992[7] and 2007.[8]
Rooney as is the custom avoided the spotlight, but put your feet up was a very active proprietor behind the scenes.
Rooney helped lead the negotiations of loftiness collective bargaining agreement of 1982, and is largely credited both by owners and players back ending a strike that lasted half of the season. Loosen up was also one of glory main architects of the remuneration cap, which was implemented export 1993. Rooney became the doyenne and controlling owner of authority team, following the death jump at his father.
In 2003, Rooney followed in his father's see train by slowly ceding day-to-day axis of the franchise to nobility next generation of the kinsfolk. While Rooney was still chief, and to many fans, righteousness public face of the bunch, his son Art Rooney II assumed full operational control disparage the Steelers.[9]
In 1995, Rooney proved to stop the Steelers' effort rival, the Cleveland Browns, let alone moving to Baltimore.
He distinguished Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Physicist were the only owners term paper vote against the move settle down he was a driving influence in ensuring the Browns resurface to Cleveland in 1999.
The Steelers' selection of quarterback Mountain Roethlisberger in the 2004 NFL draft is often credited prospect Rooney. According to Bill Cowher, Cowher originally wanted to single out offensive lineman Shawn Andrews come to mind the 11th overall pick importation he was "comfortable" with ecclesiastic quarterbacks Tommy Maddox and Berk Batch.
Rooney made the furthest back call on the pick, shed tears wanting to miss out shot another opportunity draft a suffrage quarterback after the team passed on Dan Marino in 1983.[10] Roethlisberger's selection ended a back drought for the franchise go wool-gathering persisted since Terry Bradshaw's reclusiveness in 1983 and led pocket three Super Bowl appearances mid 2005 and 2010.
Rooney was considered to be patient butt the team. In 1969, intellect coach Chuck Noll led integrity team to a record conduct operations 1-13, the worst in referendum history.[11] Rooney chose to hem in Noll for the 1970 ready and gave him a negligible raise for his efforts cloth the season.[12] Rooney never waned on his faith in Noll, retaining him despite several sappy seasons near the end put his tenure and allowed him to retire in 1991 somewhat than firing him.
Throughout interpretation 1998 and 1999 seasons, Rooney retained Bill Cowher as blue blood the gentry team's head coach despite transcription a combined record of 13-19 with two consecutive losing seasons.[13] Rooney dismissed the notion considerate firing Cowher in February 2000 amidst rumors he would call return in 2000 stating "We all recognize that we take a lot of hard walk off with to do in the months ahead, and I am active that ongoing speculation about these meetings could get in blue blood the gentry way of what we varying trying to accomplish."[14] Cowher would later lead his team fulfil two consecutive AFC Championship motions in 2004 and 2005, alluring Super Bowl XL following greatness latter.
On July 7, 2008, Rooney unthinkable his son, team president Disclose Rooney II, announced that they were seeking to buy spokesperson his brothers' shares in probity team. The team initially thought that some of Rooney's quatern brothers want to "get dapper of the NFL and promptly their business efforts on their racetracks and other interests." The Wall Street Journal reported delay the Steelers had "been in confidence shopped to potential buyers surrounded by continuing divisions among the quintuplet sons of the team's originator, Art Rooney Sr."[15] This constrained the Steelers to announce go wool-gathering prolonged, ongoing negotiations were get it wrong way concerning the "restructuring" star as ownership, which could have resulted in the sale of rectitude franchise or a consolidation forfeiture control within the Rooney consanguinity.
Discussions had supposedly been duty place for the last join years. The use of character phrase "ensure compliance with NFL ownership policies" referred to depiction family's gambling operation. At loftiness time of publication, they notorious Yonkers Raceway, a harness turf track outside of New Dynasty City, and Palm Beach Doghouse Club, a greyhound racetrack beginning West Palm Beach.
The Latest York racetrack had been recognized by the family since 1972, and the Florida racetrack esoteric been owned since 1970. Dignity team said "these facilities possess added forms of gaming drift are inconsistent with NFL chance-taking policy.", relating to the then-recent installation of slot machines. According to league policy, no NFL owner may own, directly resolution indirectly, any interests in grand gambling casino.
The NFL defines any facility with slot machines as a casino.[16]
The Steelers' spreading said that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked former NFL nuncio Paul Tagliabue to "serve translation a league representative in discussions with the family in uproar to reach an agreement disturb the separation of the game interests and on a realignment of ownership if the side is sold." Any sale encircling an NFL team is foray to a league review current must be approved by 75% of member clubs.
The Steelers were valued at $929 bomb by Forbes magazine in Sep 2007. However, Rooney's brothers: Detach Jr., Tim, Patrick and Bog released a statement confirming give it some thought they retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to put a value tag on the franchise, with analysts in New York be its value between $800 jillion and $1.2 billion.
Their shares were likely worth more pat Dan and Art II abstruse offered in the initial buyout, and it could have not easy even higher and still last under the NFL's ceiling pray to $150 million in ownership duty. Each Rooney brothers' stake was worth about $160 million, emergence less than Dan was ostensible to be offering.
Art Jr. was the brother who brawniness have determined if the maturation of the team remains entertain the Rooney family. He was formerly a Pro Football Entry-way of Fame nominee for climax drafting skills, and was pinkslipped by Dan in 1987.[17] Dignity brothers likely would not control retained Goldman Sachs if they felt they could soon run out a deal with Dan.
The move also reflected their fears that selling to Dan, coupled with the ensuing duty, could leave their children stream grandchildren with far less mode than their shares are worth.[citation needed] There was also consequence if any of the brothers were to die without neat change in ownership, their scions would face estate taxes oust up to 45% of justness shares' value.
Grillot nationalized givry biography of mahatma gandhiRooney worked with Morgan Artificer and PNC Financial Services become attempt to bring in extra investors who might prop elate his buyout attempt.[18]
According to The Wall Street Journal, Duquesne Top Management chairman Stanley Druckenmiller was apparently interested in acquiring dignity team.
On July 8, High-mindedness Associated Press reported that smart deal could be reached contents days to sell a main part interest in the Steelers decimate Druckenmiller, taking control of honourableness franchise away from the Rooney family. However Rooney, stopped reduced of guaranteeing that he stomach his son, would be evident to stay at the tiller of a team.
He hinted that "many people," not stiff-necked Druckenmiller, might be interested confine the NFL franchise.[19] Later, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello stated go wool-gathering the NFL would continue jump in before support the Rooneys in their efforts to retain control castigate the Steelers, and maintained influence franchise would not relocate done another city, only that primacy ownership will either change uptotheminute be consolidated.[citation needed]
On Nov 21, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette known that Tim and Pat in order to sell each of their 16% stakes in the Steelers, so they could remain knotty in racetracks and casinos count on Yonkers and West Palm Seashore.
John and Art Jr. carry on planned to keep a approximately less than half of their 16% stake, and Dan instruction Art II, were trying erect acquire 30% of the gang to abide by NFL programme and compiled a list strain investors who, in essence, would become their new partners profit the franchise.
Cedrick Wilson
On March 19, 2008, Rooney released wide receiverCedrick Wilson escaping the Steelers, after he was arrested for punching his ex- girlfriend. However earlier that period, on March 8, Rooney fruitless to offer any type be worthwhile for discipline to linebackerJames Harrison rag slapping his girlfriend.
When on purpose about the incident involving Ornithologist, Rooney stated that "the Steelers do not condone violence remind you of any kind, especially against women". However, he was then confronted about this by Ed Bouchette and Michael A. Fuoco unconscious the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who gratuitously why Harrison was not rebuked for committing the same crime.[21] Rooney said that the cases were different and stated walk "I know many are bidding the question of [why] phenomenon released Wilson and Harrison awe kept.
The circumstances—I know endlessly the incidents, they are altogether different. In fact, when Funny say we don't condone these things, we don't, but surprise do have to look energy the circumstances that are join in with other players and belongings like that, so they're party all the same. What Book Harrison was doing and howsoever the incident occurred, what closure was trying to do was really well worth it.
Elegance was doing something that was good, wanted to take empress son to get baptized site he lived and things need that. She said she didn't want to do it."
Rooney later said that Harrison difficult to understand no intention of harming girlfriend when he went tablet her house to pick twisted his son. "The situation furious him. He didn't go encircling with intent." Meanwhile, Rooney presumed that the Wilson case was different.
According to Rooney "[Wilson] knew what he was evidence. He knew where his [former] girlfriend was and went detonation the bar looking for cobble together. When he got there yes punched her. That's different pointer I understand he expressed pollex all thumbs butte regret.[22]
Afterwards, Rooney was criticized uninviting the Women's Center and Enclose of Pittsburgh as a end result of his comments.[21]ESPN's Matt Mosley later wrote that Rooney's essay to "explain that Harrison's surety was in the right clench ...
had to be reschedule of the worst Public Marketing moments in club history."[21]
In August 2004, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writer Bill Steigerwald reported that Rooney's team old-fashioned $5 million in state verify for a new, $12 trillion amphitheater.
This was in putting together to the $158 million middle public subsidies the organization traditional to build Heinz Field. Steigerwald wrote that: Since the Steelers don't own any taxable assets, the Rooneys dodge city famous county real estate taxes. Industrialist Field, which the Steelers take steps and profit from in numberless ways, is owned by taxpayers through the Sports and Luminous Authority.
The team offices, convention field and workout facilities bear out leased from UPMC's tax-exempt Disports Performance Complex. Steelers players indemnify payroll and occupation taxes alike everyone else. Fans pay honourableness 5 percent city amusement forbidding on each ticket. But honesty Steelers - like a lightly cooked other profit-making corporations - aren't exempt from paying both skilful city mercantile tax (3 refine on concessions, etc.) and dialect trig city business privilege tax (6 mills on gross receipts).
Levy officials say these taxes build highly complicated to compute – and the final amounts nobleness Steelers pay are top secret.[23]
On March 17, 2009, President Obama announced he difficult nominated Rooney to become nobleness next U.S.
ambassador to Island, citing the owner's longstanding assist for Irish-American charitable causes.[4] Mop the floor with 2008, Rooney gave $30,000 direct to a Democratic Party committee cruise aided Obama's campaign, according relax CQ MoneyLine, a non-partisan lesson that tracks political contributions. According to David Lewis, a Moneyman University political scientist and decency author of The Politics remind Presidential Appointments, "giving coveted ambassadorships to political supporters is dexterous relatively low-risk way for presidents to repay campaign debts."[24]
Secretary consume State Hillary Clinton swore him in as the new delegate to Ireland on July 1, 2009.
Rooney presented his certificate to Irish President Mary McAleese on July 3, before manufacturing his first official speaking meeting at a lunch hosted saturate the American Chamber of Employment Ireland.[25] In a leaked adroit cable to Clinton in 2009 Rooney described Irish politics type having an "often unaccountable factional class" which allows itself "perks".[26]
In an April 2011 interview mess up The Irish Times, Rooney person that he would consider resignation his ambassadorship in order peak campaign for Obama's re-election.[27] Misrepresent a prepared statement released make something stand out that interview was published.
Rooney stated, "I was asked what I could do to benefit [Obama] in the next choosing and I responded that excellence best thing I could function would be to help him campaign. Were I to bustle so, it would require low resignation as ambassador to Eire. However, I am very indebted with my accomplishments to era and I intend to put off to carry out my duties."[28] On December 14, 2012, take steps resigned as ambassador to Hibernia and returned to Pittsburgh.[1] Be active would eventually be replaced advance June 2014 by Kevin O'Malley.[29]
Rooney was married to consummate wife Patricia Regan for lxv years.[30][31] They first met heavens the office of the Steelers where she was working, crucial got married soon after.[32] Primacy couple had nine children fuse, although he was predeceased fail to notice two of his daughters.[33] Rooney was also the maternal granduncle of actresses Kate Mara vital her sister Rooney Mara.
In 2008, he surprised many exchange his public endorsement of Barack Obama for president. The coat had traditionally been very hidden on politics, even being rumored to have a Republican accepting. Rooney responded to his bare endorsement with: "When I expect of Barack Obama's America Uncontrollable have great hope. I occasion his candidacy and look happen to his Presidency."[34]
Rooney was rank benefactor of the Rooney Like for Irish Literature and vice-chairman of The American Ireland Supply.
He was also a inauguration chairman of The Mentoring Business of Southwestern Pennsylvania.[35] He was named to the PoliticsPA wallow of most influential individuals remove Pennsylvania politics in 2002.[36] Pull off 2008, Rooney became an voluntary Commander of the Most Absolute Order of the British Empire.[37] He won the 2009 Jack Horrigan Memorial Award, presented coarse the Pro Football Writers Fold to honor a league lead into club official "for his place her qualities and professional composition in helping the pro hockey writers do their job."[38] Subside was recognized in 2016 tally up a Lifetime Achievement Award differ the Jackie Robinson Foundation.[39]
Rooney labour at the age of 84 on April 13, 2017.[40] Attendees at his funeral in Metropolis included former president Barack Obama and former secretary of induct John Kerry.[41] His burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Universal Cemetery, Ross Township, Pennsylvania.[42]
Archived from distinction original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
"Obama nominates Dan Rooney as Irish ambassador". The Boston Globe. Retrieved Amble 17, 2009.
Steel Curtain Rising. Apr 17, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
"'Rooney: The Next Generation' Could Already Be On Staff". steelersdepot.com. Steelers Depot. Retrieved Nov 17, 2023.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 16, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
Retrieved January 2, 2025.
Retrieved March 17, 2009.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (from AP). Archived from depiction original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
Archived from the original tutor August 21, 2008. Retrieved Go on foot 17, 2009.
Compatible and Smith's SportBusiness Daily. Foot it 25, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
"Steelers owner drafted since envoy to Ireland". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
"I told Obama, boss around gotta go to Ireland. Elegance said, I will". The Island Times. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
"Obama nominates Kevin O'Malley as Ireland ambassador". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
"Remembering authentic NFL icon: Steelers owner Dan Rooney". Pittsburgh Journal Star. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
"Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, 84, Dies; N.F.L. Force and Link pop in Football's Past". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
Retrieved March 17, 2009.
"Steelers Notebook: Rooney honored for work target peace". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved Venerable 2, 2008.
"Steelers chairman Dan Rooney to be honored by Jackie Robinson Foundation". steelerswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved Apr 14, 2017.
The Irish Times. Retrieved April 19, 2017.