Dan Rooney
| Dan Rooney | |
|---|---|
Ambassador Rooney
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| 30th United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
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In office July 3, 2009 – December 14, 2012 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Thomas C. Foley |
| Succeeded by | Kevin O'Malley |
| 2nd Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers | |
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Assumed office 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Vacant, last held by Art Rooney |
| 2nd President of the Pittsburgh Steelers | |
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In office 1975–2002 |
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| Preceded by | Art Rooney |
| Succeeded by | Art Rooney II |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Daniel Milton Rooney July 20, 1932 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Duquesne University |
| Profession | NFL Owner |
| Awards |
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2000 CBE (honorary) 2011 Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| Super Bowls | 6× Super Bowl Champion IX, Super Bowl X, XIII, XIV, XL, XLIII |
| AFC Championships | 8× AFC Champion 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2008, 2010 |
Daniel Milton Rooney (born July 20, 1932) is the former United States Ambassador to Ireland, who served from July 3, 2009 until his resignation in 2012. He is chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football team in the National Football League (NFL), which was founded by his father, Art. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his contributions to the game. He is 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".
Rooney is also co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization The Ireland Funds.
Rooney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Kathleen (née McNulty) and Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney. In the Steelers organization, Rooney has been involved in every aspect of the franchise since 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. Rooney was mentored by Fran Fogerty, Joe Carr, and Ed Kiely. These men assisted in teaching Dan the business of football. After being mentored and graduating from Duquesne University he knew football was what he wanted to pursue. He then met his future wife in the office of the Steelers where she was currently working. The couple got married soon after. By early 1969 Rooney was managing the day-to-day operations of the team and personally selected the coaching hire of Chuck Noll. He was appointed team president in 1975 and was officially given full operational control of the franchise by his father who remained Chairman and President Emeritus, as well as the public face of the franchise until his death in 1988. During his tenure, he has implemented a philosophy and management style that emphasizes open, practical and efficient management. The results have been obvious: since 1972, the Steelers have won 15 division championships, 8 AFC Championships, and an NFL record 6 Super Bowl Championships. Rooney became the patriarch and controlling owner of the team in 1988, 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. Although still chairman and to many fans the public face of the team, his son Art Rooney II has now assumed full operational control of the Steelers.
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