Dan Rooney: much-loved Steelers scion who left a lasting mark on the NFL | Sport | The Guardian. ing Rooney’s “dedication to the game, to the players and the coaches, to his beloved Pittsburgh, and to Steelers fans everywhere was unparalleled. “That’s across staff, coaches, medics, scientists, referees and the academy system. ” Rooney returned in 2012 and went right back to work in the family business, becoming a fixture at the team’s headquarters well into his 80s.