Artwork Rooney Jr., an underrated architect of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dynasty, is one step nearer to following lots of the gamers he scouted and helped draft into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Rooney is without doubt one of the 25 candidates remaining for the 2025 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Contributor class because the Corridor whittled the record down from 47 names.
Rooney, now 88 years previous, served because the Steelers’ personnel director from 1965 to 1986. There, he helped take Pittsburgh from a historical past of lovable losers right into a dynasty. Underneath his watch, the staff drafted QB Terry Bradshaw, RB Franco Harris, WRs Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, DT Joe Greene, LBs Jack Lambert and Jack Ham, and CB Mel Blount, all Corridor of Famers and core members of the Steelers’ Nineteen Seventies dynasty.
Pittsburgh gained 4 Tremendous Bowls throughout the decade whereas making the playoffs annually from 1972-1979. Head coach Chuck Noll, scout Invoice Nunn, and Dan Rooney are sometimes given probably the most credit score for the roster building, rightfully so, however Rooney Jr. additionally performed a key function.
From 1972-1986, the Steelers had the league’s fifth-best profitable fee at just below 65 %, changing into one of many league’s most storied franchises over that span and legacy that lives on in the present day. Right this moment, Rooney Jr. is the Steelers’ vice chairman.
Out Scott Brown spoke in April with Rooney, who understood Steelers fatigue could also be blocking his path to Canton.
“They inform me I’m a tough promote as a result of my dad and [brother] Dan are in, and Invoice Nunn, who was a really, very pricey good friend and labored with me, he acquired in,” Rooney informed Brown. “They inform me, ‘There’s too many Rooneys.’ You attempt to snicker about it, however it’s type of a kick within the shins.”
The Corridor of Fame Committee will scale back the 25 names to 9 semifinalists two weeks from now. Different notable names nonetheless on the record embrace former Tennessee Titans proprietor Bud Adams, broadcasters Chris Berman and Howard Cosell, present New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, and former Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask.
