Art Rooney
A beloved Pittsburgh patriarch who founded the Steelers with racetrack winnings and built them into a dynasty through patience, loyalty, and a cigar-chomping charm.
1901–1988 (age 87)·American football player, executive, and owner·Birthday: January 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Art Rooney wasn't just a football owner; he was the soul of a city. He bought an NFL franchise for $2,500 in 1933, reportedly using winnings from a spectacular day at the racetrack, and endured four decades of mediocrity with a stoic, hopeful grin. His leadership was defined not by impatience but by a profound belief in stability and people. He hired Chuck Noll in 1969, a decision that transformed the struggling Steelers into the 1970s' most dominant team, winning four Super Bowls. Rooney, affectionately called 'The Chief,' was a constant, familiar presence—his fedora and cigar emblematic of an old-school, hands-off approach that fostered fierce loyalty. He built more than a team; he forged a civic religion in Pittsburgh, where the black and gold became symbols of blue-collar resilience and ultimate triumph.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Art was born in 1901, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Art Was Born
The biggest hits of 1901
Art's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1901Born
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Started school
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Became a teenager
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could drive
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could vote
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 21
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1931Turned 30
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 40
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 50
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 60
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 70
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 80
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1988Died at 87
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
Key Achievements
- Founded the Pittsburgh Steelers (originally the Pirates) in 1933 and owned the team until his death in 1988.
- Hired Chuck Noll as head coach in 1969, launching the team's dynasty that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 for his contributions to the sport as an owner.
- Was a successful sportsman outside football, qualifying as a lightweight boxer for the 1920 U.S. Olympic team.
Did You Know?
The seed money to buy the Steelers is famously said to have come from a $300,000 winning streak at the racetrack.
He was offered multiple chances to relocate the Steelers (including to Philadelphia) but always refused.
He owned a minor league baseball team, the Pittsburgh Steelers of baseball's American Association, in the 1940s.
Five of his sons have run the Steelers, maintaining family ownership for over 90 years.
“I've had a lot of victories in my life, but the greatest victory has been the love of my family.”
