Rooney himself might have selected a white coach when Bill Cowher retired in 2007 had he treated Tom. the comfort that along with their strong faith will lead them through this unspeakably difficult time. Goodell said: Rooney’s ‘dedication to the game, to the players and the coaches, to his beloved Pittsburgh, and to Steelers fans everywhere was unparalleled. “Dan Rooney was a great friend of mine, but more importantly, he was a great friend to the people of.