Dan Rooney
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- For the fictional television character, please see Dan Rooney (General Hospital)
Dan Rooney | |
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Date of birth | July 20, 1932 |
Place of birth | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Position(s) | Owner |
College | Duquesne |
Team(s) as a coach/administrator | |
1955-present | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2000 |
Daniel M. Rooney (born July 20, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is the owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of team founder and former owner Art Rooney. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his great success as an owner. He is also credited for coming up with the "Rooney Rule," which requires NFL teams with head coaching and general manager vacancies to interview at least one minority candidate.
In the Steelers organization, Rooney was appointed team president in 1975 and was given a great deal of power by his father. During his tenure, he has implemented a philosophy and management style that emphasizes open, practical and efficient management. The results have been obvious: since 1972, the Steelers have been AFC Central Division champions 14 times, AFC champions six times, and Super Bowl champions five times. Rooney became outright owner of the team in 1988, following the death of his father. Since 2003, Rooney has somewhat limited his control of the franchise, giving more power to son Art Rooney II.
Dan Rooney is a graduate of Duquesne University, majoring in accounting. He has been involved with the Steelers since 1960, originally working as director of personnel. While Rooney has generally avoided the spotlight, he has been a very active owner behind the scenes. Rooney helped to negotiate the collective bargaining agreement of 1982, which ended a strike that lasted half of the season. He is also one of the architects of the salary cap, which was implemented in 1993.
Rooney is the benefactor of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and Vice-Chairman of The American Ireland Fund.
He endorsed Barack Obama for president, stating, "When I think of Barack Obama’s America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency."[1]
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