Dan M. Rooney: Difference between revisions

|term_end2=December 14, 2012<ref name="dublin.usembassy.gov">{{cite web |url=http://dublin.usembassy.gov/news/events-outreach/ambassador-dan-rooney-resigns.html |title=ArchivedAmbassador copyDan Rooney Resigns &#124; Embassy of the United States Dublin, Ireland |access-date=2014-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213427/http://dublin.usembassy.gov/news/events-outreach/ambassador-dan-rooney-resigns.html |archive-date=April 8, 2014 }}</ref>

|party= [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/04/13/dan-rooney-death-barack-obama-remembrance-pittsburgh-steelers/stories/201704140100|title=Obama remembers lifelong Republican Dan Rooney}}</ref>

* 6× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl Championchampion]] ([[Super Bowl IX|IX]], [[Super Bowl X|X]], [[Super Bowl XIII|XIII]], [[Super Bowl XIV|XIV]], [[Super Bowl XL|XL]], [[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]])

* 2011 [[Pittsburgh ProSteelers#Hall of Honor|Pittsburgh FootballSteelers Hall of FameHonor]]

'''Daniel Milton Rooney''' (July 20, 1932 – April 13, 2017) was an American professional [[American football|football]] executive and diplomat best known for his association with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], an [[American football]] team inof the [[National Football League]] (NFL),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2012/12/17/Dan-Rooney-returns-as-Steelers-chairman/UPI-61581355767848/|title=Dan Rooney returns as Steelers' chairman|access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref> and son of the Steelers' founder, [[Art Rooney]]. He held various roles within the organization, most notably as president, owner and chairman.

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|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]]".

==Early life and educationcollege==

Daniel Milton 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 (Pittsburgh)|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 (general)|Michael Hayden]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/02/AR2008110202621.html?sid=ST2008110202670&s_pos= | worknewspaper=The Washington Post | first=Mike | last=Wise | title=Mike Wise: The Spy Who Loved Rooney | date=November 3, 2008}}</ref> 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.

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 Chairmanchairman and [[Emeritus|President Emeritus]], as well as the public face of the franchise, until his death in 1988.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

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 havingfor endedending 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.<ref>{{citationcite web |last1=Marczi |first1=Matthew |title='Rooney: The Next Generation' Could Already Be On Staff |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2017/04/rooney-next-generation-already-staff/ |website=steelersdepot.com needed|date=OctoberApril 26, 2017 |publisher=Steelers Depot |access-date=17 November 20182023}}</ref>

In 1995, Rooney was influential in tryingtried to stop the Steelers' biggest rival, the [[Cleveland Browns]], from [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy|moving to Baltimore]]. AlongHe withand Buffalo Bills owner [[Ralph Wilson,]] he waswere the only ownerowners to vote against the move and he was a driving force in ensuring the Browns [[Cleveland_Browns_relocation_controversy#Settlement|return to Cleveland]] in 1999.

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|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.<ref name="ARJ_OwnershipFight">{{cite news|url=http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_577016.html|title=Rooney brother may decide Steelers ownership fight|last=Robinson|first=Alan|date=July 11, 2008|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] (from [[Associated Press|AP]])|access-date=2009-03-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808143254/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_577016.html|archive-date=August 8, 2008}}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} There was also concern if any of the brothers were to die without a change in ownership, their heirs would face [[estate tax]]es 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.<ref name="EstateTax">{{cite web|url=http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_577048.html|title=Estate tax threatens NFL's old guard of owners|last=Gorman|first=Kevin|author2=Mike Prisuta|date=July 11, 2008|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|access-date=2009-03-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821032612/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_577048.html|archive-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref>

On November 21, the ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' reported that Tim and Pat planned to sell each of their 16% stakestakes 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.<ref name="EB_SteelersSale">{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08326/929655-66.stm|title=Two Rooney brothers to sell all shares|last=Bouchette|first=Ed|author2=Gerry Dulac|date=November 21, 2008|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|access-date=2009-03-17}}</ref>

[[File:Barack Obama at Áras an Uachtaráin.jpg|235px|thumb|Rooney with [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] and [[President ofMary IrelandMcAleese|President McAleese]] at [[Áras an Uachtaráin]] in May 2011]]

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.<ref name="SwearingIn">{{cite news|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2009appt/july/125524.htm|title=Daily Appointments Schedule for July 1, 2009 |date=July 1, 2009 }}</ref> In a leaked [[diplomatic cable]] to Clinton in 2009 Rooney described Irish politics as having an "often unaccountable political class" which allows itself "perks".<ref>{{cite news |title=Clinton was kept in loop on expenses scandals |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/clinton-was-kept-in-loop-on-expenses-scandals/26738336.html |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marlowe|first=Lara|title=I told Obama, you gotta go to Ireland. He said, I will|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0423/1224295311854.html|access-date=April 25, 2011|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=April 23, 2011}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_733878.html|title=Rooney says he's staying in Ireland|last=Conte|first=Andrew|date=April 25, 2011|access-date=2011-04-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429171554/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_733878.html|archive-date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> On December 14, 2012, he resigned as ambassador to Ireland and returned to Pittsburgh.<ref name="dublin.usembassy.gov"/> He would eventually be replaced in June 2014 by [[Kevin O'Malley]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Itkowitz|first1=Colby|last2=Kamen|first2=Al|title=Obama nominates Kevin O'Malley as Ireland ambassador|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/06/05/obama-to-nominate-kevin-omalley-as-ireland-ambassador/|access-date=June 6, 2014|worknewspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 5, 2014}}</ref>

Rooney was married to his wife Patricia Regan for sixty-five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/12206241-74/dan-rooney-remembered-for-living-life-guided-by-faith-family-and-football|title=Dan Rooney remembered for living life guided by faith, family and football|first=Joe|last=Rutter|work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=April 18, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pjstar.com/sports/20170413/remembering-nfl-icon-steelers-owner-dan-rooney|title=Remembering an NFL icon: Steelers owner Dan Rooney|first=Ed|last=Bouchette|work=Pittsburgh Journal Star|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> They first met in the office of the Steelers where she was working, and got married soon after.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ruck|first=Rob|title=Rooney A Sporting Life|url=https://archive.org/details/rooneysportingli00ruck|url-access=limited|year=2010|publisher=The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rooneysportingli00ruck/page/n352 290]|isbn=9780803222830}}</ref> The couple had nine children together, although he was predeceased by two of his daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/12206241-74/dan-rooney-remembered-for-living-life-guided-by-faith-family-and-football|title=Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, 84, Dies; N.F.L. Force and Link to Football's Past|first=Ken|last=Belson|work=The New York Times|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> Rooney was also the maternal great-uncle of actresses [[Kate Mara]] and her sister [[Rooney Mara]].

Rooney was the benefactor of the [[Rooney Prize for Irish Literature]] and Vicevice-Chairmanchairman of [[The American Ireland Fund]]. He was also a Foundingfounding Chairmanchairman of [[The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania]].<ref>[http://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/about-mpswpa.aspx "About The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727152950/http://www.mentoringpittsburgh.org/about-mpswpa.aspx |date=July 27, 2009 }} Retrieved June 18, 2009.</ref> He was named to the [[PoliticsPA]] list of most influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2002.<ref name=power>{{cite web | title = Sy Snyder's Power 50 | work = [[PoliticsPA]] | publisher = The Publius Group | year = 2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020421165540/http://www.politicspa.com/features/power50.htm | url = http://www.politicspa.com/features/power50.htm | archive-date = April 21, 2002 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2008, Rooney became an honorary [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]].<ref>{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Steelers Notebook: Rooney honored for work for peace|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08215/901426-66.stm|publisher= [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=August 2, 2008|access-date=2008-08-02}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballwriters.org/off-field-awards/pfwa-jack-horrigan-award/ |title=Jack Horrigan Award |website=profootballwriters.org |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209015234/http://www.profootballwriters.org/off-field-awards/pfwa-jack-horrigan-award/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was recognized in 2016 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Jackie Robinson Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/03/07/steelers-chairman-dan-rooney-to-be-honored-by-jackie-robinson-foundation/ |title=Steelers chairman Dan Rooney to be honored by Jackie Robinson Foundation |first=Curt |last=Popejoy |website=steelerswire.usatoday.com |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref>

[[Category:Honorary Commanderscommanders of the Order of the British Empire]]

[[Category:Rooney family|Dan]]