Architect of Steelers 1970s Dynasty Named Hall of Fame Finalist
Former Pittsburgh Steelers personnel director Art Rooney Jr. is among the 25 finalist for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Contributor category, the PFHOF announced on Wednesday. Only one person will be chosen in this category.
Rooney was employed with the Steelers since 1961; from 1964-1986, he worked in the Steelers’ scouting department. Rooney is the architect of the Steelers’ four Super Bowl championship teams in the 1970s. He changed the team’s strategy to one that would build through the NFL Draft, something that has continued to the present day.
Under Rooney’s watch, the Steelers drafted nine Hall of Famers and signed a tenth as an undrafted free agent. The number could increase to 11 if former Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood makes the Hall of Fame in this year’s class. Greenwood leads three former Steelers players that advanced in the voting process for the senior committee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Currently, at the age of 88, Rooney is the Steelers vice president and member of the board of directors. He was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in 2018.
In 2023, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers beat writer Vito Stellino, who covered the team in the 1970s, argued for his case to be in Canton.
“Art Rooney Jr. presided over the best drafting run in NFL history in a six-year span from 1969 to 1974,” Stellino wrote. “He was in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ scouting department when they drafted nine Hall of Famers and signed a tenth as an undrafted free agent. They started with five Hall of Famers from 1969 to 1972 – Joe Greene in 1969, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount in 1970, Jack Ham in 1971 and Franco Harris in 1972. Then they added five of them in 1974, four draft picks and free-agent Donnie Shell. No team has ever had a drafting run like that.”
Rooney could become the third member of the family to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His dad, Art Rooney Sr. and brother, Dan, are already in Canton. Art and Dan Rooney, Tim and Wellington Mara and Ed and Steve Sabol are the only father-son duos to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In addition to adding another Steelers personnel member into the PFHOF (legendary scout Bill Nunn made it as a contributor in 2021), some believe that voters are hesitant to elect another Rooney. His resume is certainly hard to ignore, however.
Each Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee member will cast an additional ballot later this month to reduce the list further to nine semifinalists. Results will be announced in about two weeks, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In addition to Rooney, the 24 other semifinalists are K.S. “Bud” Adams, Roone Arledge, Chris Berman, Howard Cosell, Otho Davis, John Facenda, Mike Giddings, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Don Klosterman, Eddie Kotal, Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, Rich McKay, John McVay, Art Modell, Lee Remmel, Eddie Robinson, Jerry Seeman, Seymour Siwoff, Amy Trask, Jim Tunney, Doug Williams and John Wooten.
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