One of the Rooney family members has passed away after a battle with cancer. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had this write-up today on Tim Rooney, who helped build the Steelers 1970″s dynasty = and was key to bringing in one of their greatest linebackers:
Vincent Timothy Rooney, a longtime NFL scout with the Steelers, Lions and Giants, died Tuesday morning after a short battle with cancer. Mr. Rooney was the nephew of Steelers founder Art Rooney and worked in NFL front offices from 1972 until his retirement in 1999.
He was director of pro scouting for the Steelers from 1972-79 and helped build the Super Bowl dynasty in the 1970s. Rooney was hired away from his coaching position at Villanova to be the Steelers’ fourth scout, joining Art Rooney Jr., Dick Haley and Bill Nunn. Mr. Rooney was put in charge of pro scouting in the personnel department and was responsible for scouting opponents, as well as player evaluations.
Rooney is often credited with helping the Steelers land Jack Lambert in the second round of the 1974 draft. It was Mr. Rooney who first took head coach Chuck Noll to watch Lambert practice at Kent State. Lambert was one of five Steelers players from the 1974 rookie class to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mike Webster and Donnie Shell followed Lambert to Canton. The 1974 Steelers draft is widely regarded as the best in NFL history.
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