TheRooney family is anIrish-American family known for its connections to the sports, acting, and political fields. After emigrating from Ireland in the 1840s, it established its American roots inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1880s.
The Rooneys are primarily known for having been the majority owners and operators of thePittsburgh Steelers of theNational Football League (NFL) since the formation of the franchise in 1933.Art Rooney was the founder and owner of the team, from its establishment asa semi-independent team in theWestern Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit in 1921 until his death in 1988. Art's brother James, who later served as a Pennsylvania state representative, played for the team in the 1920s; their brother Silas entered the priesthood but remained involved in football by becoming athletic director atSt. Bonaventure University (which for a time in the 1950s hosted the Steelers' training camp).[1] Following Art's death, ownership of the franchise transferred to Art's oldest son,Dan Rooney, a formerUnited States Ambassador to Ireland. Front office operations have passed from Dan Rooney to his son and current team president,Art Rooney II, in 2017 upon the death of Dan Rooney.
The family members who have had the most influence in the Steelers organization are:
The Rooneys have been credited for much of the team's success.[2] The fundamental approach of the Rooneys to managing the franchise has largely been through patience and consistency, both of which the ownership is renowned for. An example of the team's stability is that there have been only three head coaches employed since 1969, the fewest for any team in American professional sports during that time frame. This approach has proven to be rewarding, given that the Steelers have won sixSuper Bowls in the postAFL–NFL merger era – with all three coaches (Chuck Noll,Bill Cowher, andMike Tomlin) having won at least one Super Bowl and twoAFC championships apiece – and the team being a playoff contender in most years.
Dan Rooney's influence as chairman of the league's diversity committee made it a requirement for any team seeking a new head coach to include an interview with at least one ethnic minority candidate during that process. For this reason, the practice has become known as the "Rooney Rule".
The Rooneys are the finest people, the people I most respect in American sports ownership. I've always felt that way. And there's no reason to change. They are people of integrity and character. The way they put the Steelers together, to hire a man like Chuck Noll, to emphasize the team concept. I have a whole transcendental feeling for the Steelers and the Rooneys and Pittsburgh.
The Rooneys are also related to theMara family, part-owners and founders of theNew York Giants. The Mara family name used to be O'Mara and their Rooney family ancestors originate in Newry,County Down.[4][5]
ActressesKate Mara andRooney Mara are the daughters of Timothy Christopher Mara, the vice president of player evaluation for the New York Giants, and Kathleen McNulty (née Rooney). Their paternal grandfather,Wellington Mara, was the long-time co-owner of the Giants, succeeded by their uncle,John Mara. Their maternal grandfather, Timothy James "Tim" Rooney, has runYonkers Raceway inYonkers, New York since 1972.[6][7] The Mara sisters are the great-granddaughters of bothNew York Giants founderTim Mara andPittsburgh Steelers founderArt Rooney.[8]
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In July 2008 the Rooney family went public with the plan to reorganize the ownership structure of the franchise. Each of the five Rooney brothers owns 16% of the team, combining for 80%, while another related family, the McGinleys, own 20%. Dan Rooney, chairman, stated that his four brothers are moving towards other non-football-related business ventures and he is in talks with them to buy out their shares. However, the other four brothers believe Dan undervalued their shares, and hired Goldman Sachs to give them an estimate on the team. The estimate by Goldman Sachs valued the team between $800 million and $1.2 billion. One potential buyer has been identified,Stanley Druckenmiller, the Pittsburgh billionaire who is the chairman of Duquesne Capital Management and a former money manager for George Soros. Talks to restructure the ownership continued for two years to comply with NFL ownership policies and ensure ownership and operation under the Rooney family. The four brothers' ventures with family race tracks that allow slot machines violate NFL rules of ownership with revenue from gambling enterprises. The ownership structure also violated the NFL rule stating that at least one individual must own 30% of the team to be the principal owner, and no individual owns at least 30% of the team. The team did not expect the negotiations to have any effect on the players or fans.
NFL owners unanimously approved the restructuring of ownership on December 17, 2008, after Dan & Art II obtained the mandated 30% stake via negotiations. Timothy and Patrick Rooney sold their shares outright. Art Jr. John Rooney reduced their shares from 16% to 6%, and the McGinley family reduced their shares from 20% to 10%. Also coming on as partners werePilot Corporation &Pilot Travel Centers presidentJim Haslam III (who would later relinquish his stake upon purchasing the rivalCleveland Browns),Legendary Pictures president & CEOThomas Tull, and the Paul Family of Pittsburgh, an influential Pittsburgh family (Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp., serves on numerousboards, includingUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center andUniversity of Pittsburgh), each getting a 16% stake in the team.[9] Dan Rooney mentioned he has no ill will towards Druckenmiller, mentioning he's a greatSteelers fan and wishes he remains one.
The Steelers later announced on March 23, 2009, that they added three more investors to the team, the most notable of which isHall of Famewide receiverJohn Stallworth. The other two investors added wereGTCR chairmanBruce V. Rauner and the Varischetti Family ofBrockway, Pennsylvania, which owns severalnursing homes and acommercial real estate business. The deal to add all six new investors was finalized in May 2009.[10]
