Steelers Mt Rusmore

[SteelChip]

I'm going to pose a question here, what really are the Chief's accomplishments?

He was a charismatic business man, who poorly ran a football franchise for 35 years until his son Dan took over football operations. The Steelers made the playoffs only once during those 35 years, and were brutally embarrassed in that game. He wasn't a team first businessman. He sold the beloved Steelers, and was very lucky to get it back. Though in actuality, he didn't get the team back. He bought half of the Eagles and moved the Eagles to Pit and changed the team name, as the original Steelers (Pirates) moved to Philly in a market swap in 41.

Dan Rooney took over football operations in the late 60s. The Dynasty is Dan's, the drafts are Dan's and the lwoB repuSs are Dan's. Heck Dan even selected Noll. Chief got to reap the rewards.

The Chief is beloved. He was truly an excellent community leader and family man. He did have to endure a lot to try and make a floundering franchise viable vs college football and baseball in the 30s and 40s. I think those are his merits. He just gets more credit than he deserves for the Dynasty owing in part to his larger than life personality mixed with generous portions of nostalgia.

Excellent points Cope and sound reasoning too but I don't remember seeing a Dan Rooney statue at the stadium, there's a reason for that. Art was a local icon and saloon owner who hit it big at the track. He never claimed to be a genius and everyone knew it. What he did do was establish the team (finally) during a depression and in a town where baseball ruled the day and football was considered a joke. It was Art who set Danny up to unleash hell...so to speak. Don't forget, without Art, there is no Dan....literally !

He was also noted for his negotiating/mediating skills.

Rooney was popular with owners as a mediator, which would carry over to his son Dan Rooney. He was the only owner to vote against moving the rights of the New York Yanks to Dallas, Texas after the 1951 season due to concerns of racism in the South at the time.[8] (Ultimately, the Dallas Texans failed after one year, and the rights were moved to Baltimore, where the team became the Baltimore Colts. The team now plays in Indianapolis.) In 1963, along with Bears owner George Halas, Rooney was one of two owners to vote for the 1925 NFL Championship to be reinstated to the long-defunct Pottsville Maroons.

NOW....all that said, I wouldn't throw down over Danny being named but I personally just think that the "Chief" was the founding father...jus sayin'.

 

[slashsteel]

two excellent posts back to back

I think both men bring legacy's, but both intricate in Steelers history. I think that family as a whole, just wow.

Maybe one day they will give Dan a statue too, as he is deserved IMO.


Regardless youth and blind luck made me start loving the Steelers on a farm in neighboring Philadelphia. I could have well just as easily been a Eagles fan. But none of them were big football fans when they turned on the TV. I take it as trying to keep me entertained.

I can't even remember who the Steelers were playing. I just knew from that day forward for a small child everything had to be Steelers everything.

Yes youth brought me there, but that Rooney family kept me there.

As no owners are perfect. But I have always thought that family was the class of the NFL. And still feel that way to this day.


obviously.

 

[Pittsburgh Charlie]

Dan will most definitely get a statue!