Dan Rooney

Daniel Milton Rooney (July 20, 1932 – April 13, 2017) was an American executive and diplomat best known for his association with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team in the National Football League (NFL),[3] and son of the Steelers' founder, Art Rooney. He held various roles within the organization, most notably as president, owner and chairman.

Dan Rooney
United States Ambassador to Ireland
In office
July 3, 2009 – December 14, 2012[1]
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byThomas C. Foley
Succeeded byKevin O'Malley
Personal details
Born
Daniel Milton Rooney

(1932-07-20)July 20, 1932
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 13, 2017(2017-04-13) (aged 84)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[2]
Spouse(s)
Patricia Reagan
(
m. 1952⁠–⁠2017)
Children9, including Art Rooney II
ParentsArt Rooney
Kathleen McNulty
RelativesRooney family
Kate Mara (grandniece)
Rooney Mara (grandniece)
Alma materDuquesne University
AwardsCBE (honorary)
Football career
Position:President/Owner
Career information
High school:Cranberry (PA) North Catholic
College:Duquesne
Career history
As executive:
Career highlights and awards

Rooney implemented a philosophy and management style that emphasized open, practical and efficient management. The Steelers were very successful during his tenure, winning 15 division championships, eight AFC Championships, and an NFL record six Super Bowl Championships. In 2000, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game. He was also credited with spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach and general manager vacancies interview at least one minority candidate, which has become known as the "Rooney Rule".

Outside of football, Rooney served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland, from July 2009 until his resignation in December 2012.[4] He was also co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization The Ireland Funds.[5]

Early life and education

Rooney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Kathleen (née McNulty) and Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney. In the Steelers organization, Rooney was involved in many aspects of the franchise from the time he was a young boy, often assisting his father at Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field. He grew up in the North Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh and attended North Catholic High School where he excelled as the team's quarterback. He was also the coach for the St. Peter's Elementary school football team, which was quarterbacked by future CIA Director and lifelong friend Michael Hayden.[6] Rooney was mentored by Fran Fogerty, Joe Carr and Ed Kiely. These men assisted in teaching him the business of football. After graduating from Duquesne University, with his major in accounting, he knew football was what he wanted to pursue.

Career
Rooney (left), with President George W. Bush in June 2006 after winning Super Bowl XL

In 1960, Rooney originally worked as director of personnel for the Steelers. By early 1969, Rooney was managing the day-to-day operations of the team and personally selected the coaching hire of Chuck Noll. Rooney was appointed team president in 1975 and was officially given full operational control of the franchise. His father remained Chairman and President Emeritus, as well as the public face of the franchise, until his death in 1988.

Rooney generally avoided the spotlight, but he was a very active owner behind the scenes. Rooney helped lead the negotiations of the collective bargaining agreement of 1982, and is largely credited both by owners and players of having ended a strike that lasted half of the season. He was also one of the main architects of the salary cap, which was implemented in 1993. Rooney became the patriarch and controlling owner of the team, following the death of his father. In 2003, Rooney followed in his father's footsteps by slowly ceding day-to-day operations of the franchise to the next generation of the family. While Rooney was still chairman, and to many fans, the public face of the team, his son Art Rooney II assumed full operational control of the Steelers.

In 1995, Rooney was influential in trying to stop the Steelers’ biggest rival, the Cleveland Browns, from moving to Baltimore. Along with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, he was the only owner to vote against the move and was a driving force in ensuring the Browns return to Cleveland in 1999.

Sale of the Steelers

On July 7, 2008, Rooney and his son, team president Art Rooney II, announced that they were seeking to buy out his brothers' shares in the team. The team initially said that some of Rooney's four brothers want to "get out of the NFL and focus their business efforts on their racetracks and other interests." The Wall Street Journal reported that the Steelers had "been secretly shopped to potential buyers amid continuing divisions among the five sons of the team's founder, Art Rooney Sr."[7] This forced the Steelers to announce that prolonged, ongoing negotiations were under way concerning the "restructuring" of ownership, which could have resulted in the sale of the franchise or a consolidation of control within the Rooney family. Discussions had supposedly been taking place for the last two years. The use of the phrase "ensure compliance with NFL ownership policies" referred to the family's gambling operation. At the time of publication, they owned Yonkers Raceway, a harness racing track outside of New York City, and Palm Beach Kennel Club, a greyhound racetrack in West Palm Beach. The New York racetrack had been owned by the family since 1972, and the Florida racetrack had been owned since 1970. The team said "these facilities have added forms of gaming that are inconsistent with NFL gambling policy.", relating to the then-recent installation of slot machines. According to league policy, no NFL owner may own, directly or indirectly, any interests in a gambling casino. The NFL defines any facility with slot machines as a casino.[8]

The Steelers' statement said that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue to "serve as a league representative in discussions with the family in order to reach an agreement on the separation of the gambling interests and on a restructuring of ownership if the team is sold." Any sale involving an NFL team is subject to a league review and must be approved by 75% of member clubs. The Steelers were valued at $929 million by Forbes magazine in September 2007. However, Rooney's brothers: Art Jr., Tim, Patrick and John released a statement confirming that they retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to put a price tag on the franchise, and analysts in New York placed its value between $800 million and $1.2 billion. Their shares were likely worth more than Dan and Art II had offered in the initial buyout, and it could have raised even higher and still remain under the NFL's ceiling of $150 million in ownership debt. Each Rooney brothers' stake was worth about $160 million, or less than Dan was believed to be offering. Art Jr. was the brother who might have determined if the majority of the team remains in the Rooney family. He was formerly a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee for his drafting skills, and was fired by Dan in 1987.[9] The brothers likely would not have retained Goldman Sachs if they felt they could soon work out a deal with Dan. The move also reflected on their fears that selling to Dan, coupled with the ensuing taxes, could leave their children and grandchildren with far less money than their shares are worth. There was also concern if any of the brothers were to die without a change in ownership, their heirs would face estate taxes of up to 45% of the shares' value. Rooney worked with Morgan Stanley and PNC Financial Services to attempt to bring in additional investors who might prop up his buyout attempt.[10]

According to the Wall Street Journal, Duquesne Capital Management chairman Stanley Druckenmiller was apparently interested in acquiring the team. On July 8, The Associated Press reported that a deal could be reached within days to sell a majority interest in the Steelers to Druckenmiller, taking control of the franchise away from the Rooney family. However Rooney, stopped short of guaranteeing that he and his son, would be able to stay at the helm of a team. He hinted that "many people," not just Druckenmiller, might be interested in the NFL franchise.[11] Later, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello stated that the NFL would continue to support the Rooneys in their efforts to retain control of the Steelers, and maintained the franchise would not relocate to another city, only that the ownership will either change or be consolidated.

On November 21, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Tim and Pat planned to sell each of their 16% stake in the Steelers, so they could remain involved in racetracks and casinos in Yonkers and West Palm Beach. John and Art Jr. each planned to keep a little less than half of their 16% stake, and Dan and Art II, were trying to acquire 30% of the team to abide by NFL policy and compiled a list of investors who, in essence, would become their new partners in the franchise.[12]

Controversies

James Harrison vs. Cedrick Wilson

On March 19, 2008, Rooney released wide receiver Cedrick Wilson from the Steelers, after he was arrested for punching his former girlfriend. However earlier that month, on March 8, Rooney failed to offer any type of discipline to linebacker James Harrison for slapping his girlfriend. When asked about the incident involving Wilson, Rooney stated that "the Steelers do not condone violence of any kind, especially against women". However, he was then confronted about this by Ed Bouchette and Michael A. Fuoco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who asked why Harrison was not punished for committing the same crime.[13] Rooney said that the cases were different and stated that "I know many are asking the question of [why] we released Wilson and Harrison we kept. The circumstances—I know of the incidents, they are completely different. In fact, when I say we don't condone these things, we don't, but we do have to look at the circumstances that are involved with other players and things like that, so they're not all the same. What James Harrison was doing and how the incident occurred, what he was trying to do was really well worth it. He was doing something that was good, wanted to take his son to get baptized where he lived and things like that. She said she didn't want to do it."

Rooney later said that Harrison had no intention of harming his girlfriend when he went to her house to pick up his son. "The situation angered him. He didn't go there with intent." Meanwhile, Rooney stated that the Wilson case was different. According to Rooney "[Wilson] knew what he was doing. He knew where his [former] girlfriend was and went to the bar looking for her. When he got there he punched her. That's different and I understand he expressed no regret.[14]

Afterwards, Rooney was criticized by the Women's Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh as a result of his comments.[13] ESPN's Matt Mosley later wrote that Rooney's attempt to "explain that Harrison's heart was in the right place ... had to be one of the worst Public Relations moments in club history."[13]

Steelers taxes and taxpayer funding

In August 2004, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writer Bill Steigerwald reported that Rooney's team received $5 million in state funds for a new, $12 million amphitheater. This was in addition to the $158 million in public subsidies the organization received to build Heinz Field. Steigerwald wrote that: Since the Steelers don't own any taxable property, the Rooneys dodge city and county real estate taxes. Heinz Field, which the Steelers operate and profit from in myriad ways, is owned by taxpayers through the Sports and Exhibition Authority. The team offices, practice field and workout facilities are leased from UPMC's tax-exempt Sports Performance Complex. Steelers players pay payroll and occupation taxes like everyone else. Fans pay the 5 percent city amusement tax on each ticket. But the Steelers - like a few other profit-making corporations - aren't exempt from paying both a city mercantile tax (3 mills on concessions, etc.) and a city business privilege tax (6 mills on gross receipts). Tax officials say these taxes are highly complicated to compute – and the final amounts the Steelers pay are top secret.[15]

Ambassador to Ireland
Rooney with President Obama and President McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin during Obama's trip to Ireland in May 2011.

On March 17, 2009, President Obama announced he had nominated Rooney to become the next U.S. ambassador to Ireland, citing the owner's longstanding support for Irish-American charitable causes.[4] In 2008, Rooney gave $30,000 to a Democratic Party committee that aided Obama's campaign, according to CQ MoneyLine, a non-partisan group that tracks political contributions. According to David Lewis, a Vanderbilt University political scientist and the author of The Politics of Presidential Appointments, "giving coveted ambassadorships to political supporters is a relatively low-risk way for presidents to repay campaign debts."[16]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton swore him in as the new ambassador to Ireland on July 1, 2009. Rooney presented his credentials to Irish President Mary McAleese on July 3, before making his first official speaking engagement at a lunch hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.[17]

In an April 2011 interview with The Irish Times, Rooney mentioned that he would consider resigning his ambassadorship in order to campaign for Obama's re-election.[18] In a prepared statement released after that interview was published. Rooney stated, "I was asked what I could do to help [Obama] in the next election and I responded that the best thing I could do would be to help him campaign. Were I to do so, it would require my resignation as ambassador to Ireland. However, I am very pleased with my accomplishments to date and I intend to continue to carry out my duties."[19] On December 14, 2012, he resigned as ambassador to Ireland and returned to Pittsburgh.[1] He would eventually be replaced in June 2014 by Kevin O'Malley.[20]

Personal life
Rooney in October 2008, at an Obama rally

Rooney was married to his wife Patricia Regan for sixty-five years.[21][22] They first met in the office of the Steelers where she was working, and got married soon after.[23] The couple had nine children together, although he was predeceased by two of his daughters.[24] Rooney was also the maternal great-uncle of actresses Kate Mara and her sister Rooney Mara.

In 2008, he surprised many with his public endorsement of Barack Obama for president. The family had traditionally been very private on politics, even being rumored to have a Republican bent. Rooney responded to his public endorsement with: "When I think of Barack Obama’s America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency."[25]

Rooney was the benefactor of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and Vice-Chairman of The American Ireland Fund. He was also a Founding Chairman of The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania.[26] He was named to the PoliticsPA list of most influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2002.[27] In 2008, Rooney became an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.[28] He won the 2009 Jack Horrigan Memorial Award, presented by the Pro Football Writers Association to honor a league or club official "for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job."[29] He was recognized in 2016 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.[30]

Death

Rooney died at the age of 84 on April 13, 2017.[31] Attendees at his funeral in Pittsburgh included former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state John Kerry.[32] His burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Ross Township, Pennsylvania.[33]

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See also
  • List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/04/13/dan-rooney-death-barack-obama-remembrance-pittsburgh-steelers/stories/201704140100
  3. "Dan Rooney returns as Steelers' chairman". Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  4. Rhee, Foon (March 17, 2009). "Obama nominates Dan Rooney as Irish ambassador". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  5. "Our History". irelandfunds.org. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  6. Wise, Mike (November 3, 2008). "Mike Wise: The Spy Who Loved Rooney". The Washington Post.
  7. "Dan Rooney exploring buyout of brothers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (from AP). July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  8. Prisuta, Mike (July 8, 2008). "The selling of the Steelers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  9. Robinson, Alan (July 11, 2008). "Rooney brother may decide Steelers ownership fight". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (from AP). Archived from the original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  10. Gorman, Kevin; Mike Prisuta (July 11, 2008). "Estate tax threatens NFL's old guard of owners". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  11. Prine, Carl; Mike Dudurich (July 9, 2008). "'Low key' billionaire eyes Steelers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  12. Bouchette, Ed; Gerry Dulac (November 21, 2008). "Two Rooney brothers to sell all shares". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  13. "Rooney's Comments Regarding Domestic Abuse Draw Criticism". Street and Smith's SportBusiness Daily. March 25, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  14. "UPDATED: Dan Rooney mea culpa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 20, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  15. Steigerwald, Bill (August 29, 2004). "Rooney family values". Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  16. Schouten, Fredreka (March 18, 2009). "Steelers owner drafted as envoy to Ireland". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  17. "Daily Appointments Schedule for July 1, 2009". July 1, 2009.
  18. Marlowe, Lara (April 23, 2011). "'I told Obama, you gotta go to Ireland. He said, I will'". The Irish Times. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  19. Conte, Andrew (April 25, 2011). "Rooney says he's staying in Ireland". Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  20. Itkowitz, Colby; Kamen, Al (June 5, 2014). "Obama nominates Kevin O'Malley as Ireland ambassador". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  21. Rutter, Joe (April 18, 2017). "Dan Rooney remembered for living life guided by faith, family and football". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  22. Bouchette, Ed (April 13, 2017). "Remembering an NFL icon: Steelers owner Dan Rooney". Pittsburgh Journal Star. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  23. Ruck, Rob (2010). Rooney A Sporting Life. The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. pp. 290.
  24. Belson, Ken (April 13, 2017). "Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, 84, Dies; N.F.L. Force and Link to Football's Past". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  25. Rooney, Dan (April 14, 2008). "Dan Rooney endorses Sen. Barack Obama (open letter)". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  26. "About The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA" Archived July 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  27. "Sy Snyder's Power 50". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on April 21, 2002.
  28. Bouchette, Ed (August 2, 2008). "Steelers Notebook: Rooney honored for work for peace". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  29. "Jack Horrigan Award". profootballwriters.org. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  30. Popejoy, Curt (March 7, 2016). "Steelers chairman Dan Rooney to be honored by Jackie Robinson Foundation". steelerswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  31. "Steelers chairman Dan Rooney dies at 84". ESPN.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  32. Sanserino, Michael; Carswell, Simon (April 18, 2017). "Obama attends funeral of ex-ambassador to Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  33. "'Faith, family, football:' Steelers owner Dan Rooney mourned at funeral Mass in Pittsburgh". WTAE.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Thomas C. Foley		 United States Ambassador to Ireland
2009–2012		 Succeeded by
Kevin O'Malley
Sporting positions
Vacant Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers
2003–2017		 Vacant
Preceded by
Art Rooney		 President of the Pittsburgh Steelers
1975–2002		 Succeeded by
Art Rooney II
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