PITTSBURGH, OH - Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney died on Thursday, the team announced. He was 84. No cause of death was released.
Rooney was admitted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He served as general manager of the club from 1975-2003. Rooney's father, Art, purchased the Steelers in 1933 and the family has run the team since that time.
Pittsburgh has won six Super Bowl titles under the family's leadership.
"Few men have contributed as much to the National Football League as Dan Rooney," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement."A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was one of the finest men in the history of our game and it was a privilege to work alongside him for so many years."
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dan Rooney," said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam in a statement. "Mr. Rooney was a great man and true leader who always put others before himself. His immeasurable impact on the NFL will forever be recognized and his legacy, which includes the Rooney Rule, will continue to guide our league. Mr. Rooney's dedication to the NFL is only surpassed by his commitment to his family. It was a privilege and we were extremely fortunate to have spent time with the Steelers and to be in the presence of such a world class person like Dan Rooney. We are graciously thankful for Mr. Rooney, the way he treated everyone he encountered and his passion for the NFL. Our hearts are with the entire Rooney family, who we know will miss him dearly, as will we, along with the entire NFL community.”
Rooney's first job with the club was as a water boy at 12. He graduated from Duquesne in 1955 and started working in the front office,leading to his eventual stint as the general manager. More recently, Rooney served as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland from 2009-12.
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