Dan Rooney
Dan Rooney
Daniel Milton "Dan" Rooneyis the former United States Ambassador to Ireland, who served from July 3, 2009 until his resignation in 2012. He is chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in the National Football League, which was founded by his father, Art. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his contributions to the game. He is credited with spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach and general manager vacancies interview at...
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth20 July 1932
CityPittsburgh, PA
Ernie's physical and relentless style of play helped the Steelers earn a reputation for being one of the NFL's toughest teams in the 1950s. He was undersized for his position, but his strength and power were among his greatest assets.
Bill's been great for us, and we've always had a great relationship. It's just great that he could continue the legacy.
We'd have trouble (winning). The cap has been a great thing for the league. Our relation with labor has been very good, and that helps us. It's a great system. I hope we can get together soon and extend the agreement. People are working on that.
It feels great today, I'll tell you that. The coach already told me we're going to the Super Bowl to win it, not just to be there.
This was the greatest football team that was ever put together.
We're the last people who were here during that time. It's really great to see this new generation come on, this generation of players, generation of coaches, it's really an exciting time. They've done well and they've earned it. I look at this as a separate thing; this is not one for the thumb, it's one for these guys.
It's wonderful. I think it's a great thing for this city.
It's a tough, expensive agreement. But I think we'll be fine. We'll have to watch our expenses and things like that, and be fiscally responsible. But it's a great thing. This gives us labor peace for a while, which is what separated the National Football League from other sports. It's good for the players, and I think it will be good for the league.
We're going to the Super Bowl to win it, not to just be there. This is one of the great moments in the whole history of the league and I've been around a long time.
Rod made the trip and won the game for us. Not only did he play a great game, but he forced the fumble that set up Gary Anderson's field goal in overtime.
He was bright and that came across. He was a young man with great enthusiasm. He had confidence he could do the job and that was evident as we kept talking.
He would have been with us. We were great friends.
I could see in him a guy who would have success over the long haul. And that's what he's been. His roots have helped him. He's not one of those people who come to Pittsburgh and look around and think he's in some provincial town. He knows Pittsburgh, he understands the people, and he thinks of it as home. It's great to have him.
People try to compare this to a normal business. It isn't.