PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Art Rooney, Junior named as one of nine semifinalists in the contributor category for potential induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Thursday.
The field was narrowed from 21 to nine by what the HOF calls a ‘Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee’. Next week this group will get together again and pick one of the nine to be up for vote to get in the Hall.
Rooney, Junior worked from 1964-1986 as a Steelers scout and is currently a team vice president and member of the Board of Directors. During his time, nine players he helped identify are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is Art Rooney senior’s son and brother to Dan Rooney.
Among the competition is Patriots owner Robert Kraft, legendary TV executive Roone Arledge, Houston Oilers founder and owner Bud Adams. Other semifinalists-Elias Sports Bureau owner Seymour Siwoff, the first African American executive Buddy Young, Rams/Washington and Bears head coach Clark Shaughnessy, player personnel executive Bucko Kilroy and Canton Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay.