Who goes in first? Brian Roach’s picks for the inaugural Steelers Hall of Honor
Steel City Underground presents “Who goes in first?” a panel discussion on which Pittsburgh Steelers contributors will be named to the team’s first-ever “Hall of Honor”.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made an earth-shattering announcement to start the month of August by releasing plans to unveil the Hall, as a means of recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution to the team’s success.
On August 29th the Hall of Honor Selection Committee, comprised of Steelers President Art Rooney II, Joe Gordon, Bob Labriola, Stan Savran, and Tony Quatrini will announce this year’s inaugural class, who are based on the following eligibility criteria:
Former players
- Retired for at least three seasons
- Must have played for the Steelers for a minimum of three seasons
- Should possess noteworthy career highlights, records, and achievements
Former coaches and contributors
- Significant contributions to the team and community
As part of an ongoing series, members of the Steel City Underground staff will put forth their virtual votes as to who should be inducted first. Today, we take a look at Brian E. Roach’s picks.
Dan Rooney
Owner | 1969– 2002
There may not be a single individual more directly responsible for the success of the Steelers than Dan Rooney. He was behind the hiring of Chuck Noll. While he wasn’t appointed team president until 1975, he was basically running the team since 1969.
I think more than anyone, Chuck Noll included, Dan Rooney, is responsible for creating and maintaining “The Steelers Way”. The organization has a philosophy of finding high character players, treating them right, and developing from within.
Rarely, much to the chagrin of Steelers Nation, do the Steelers invest heavily in the free agent market. When they do, you’d have to say that it’s because the player they target simply fits the mold of a Steelers player. Ryan Clark, Jerome Bettis (yes I know he was a trade), James Farrior, just to mention a few, are all guys who weren’t home grown, but who, I think, no one would argue were Steelers through and through.
Dan Rooney had an approach, and it was a winning one. To this day the Steelers still adhere to it. They don’t care about stats as much as some. They certainly don’t care about color, or race or religion. What they care about is if the player “is a Steeler”. Will he fit the “Steelers Way”?
Have they been perfect? Of course not! But my goodness, 15 Division Titles, eight AFC Championships and six Super Bowl victories would lead you to believe that they are doing something right.
Art Rooney and Dan Rooney are probably one of the primary reasons there is a Steelers Nation. An organization reflects the values and morals of the people who run it, and ever since its very inception, the Steelers have been run by a member of the Rooney family.
I have said this before, and I’ll say it again, but I dread the day a Rooney isn’t running this team. I fear it. I hope it never happens!
Art Rooney
Owner | 1933-1988
I don’t know that I have all that much to say here. I think any Steelers fan worth their jersey knows who “The Chief” is without having to be told.
He’s the founder. He’s the father of the franchise. Arthur J. Rooney was more than just an owner of an NFL team, but that’s not what this article is supposed to be about. Art Modell called him “the most popular sports figure in history”. Art Jr. says that “My father always used to tell us boys, ‘Treat everybody the way you’d like to be treated. Give them the benefit of the doubt. But never let anyone mistake kindness for weakness.’”
You can argue that he made a lot of mistakes with the team early on, but I can tell you that he made the best decision of all for the team when he put his son Dan in charge.
Chuck Noll
Coach | 1969-1991
The Emperor. Is it not amazing to everyone that Chuck Noll never once won a Coach of the Year award during the 70’s?
He was the Maxwell Club Coach of the Year in 1989.
Yet, he won four Super Bowls and created the most dominant team to play the game over an entire decade. He taught the players, as Tony Dungy just referenced in his Hall of Fame speech, about doing “their life’s work”. He turned the Steelers into a team that built by the draft and did things the right way. He created the team we all know and love.
Noll was said to be extremely shy and didn’t give many interviews, which probably hurt him overall in the recognition area. The real truth is that those 1970’s teams were so talented that his contributions as head coach (and architect of the team) could easily be overlooked. He could be viewed as more of a manager rather than a real coach.
But we know the truth of that – all you have to do is listen to the players, and you know that Noll got the best out of them. We, as fans, know so little about him, and what we do know comes mostly from second-hand information from former players.
The one thing that can’t be understated is that Noll’s arrival in Pittsburgh corresponds with the turnaround of the team. He changed the dynamics, the environment, and the attitude. That’s why he’s the top coach on this list and enters the Hall of Honor first.
Bill Nunn
Scout | 1967 – 1987
I think all Steelers fans probably know who Bill Nunn is, and if they don’t, they should.
There is no John Stallworth without Bill Nunn. No L.C. Greenwood, no Dwight White, no Mel Blount, no Ernie Holmes, no Donnie Shell.
How many Hall of Fame inductees was Bill Nunn responsible for bringing to the Steelers? I have no idea and am the first to admit that my knowledge of Bill Nunn is limited, and not as extensive as I wish it was.
Nunn wrote about players in the Pittsburgh Courier and took the knowledge he gained about all of the small African-American colleges and brought it tot he Steelers. I would love to know how the meeting he had with Dan Rooney about his frustrations with the NFL ignoring those players went. I would love to know the extent of his involvement in the drafting and scouting of the players in the 70’s.
I can only assume: and my assumption is that his involvement was great. Bill Nunn should be in the Hall of Fame, and I think he will be soon, now that the Hall has expanded its selection for contributors to include scouts.
He deserves it.
I honestly believe that without Bill Nunn there would never have been a “Steel Curtain” or four Super Bowl wins in the 70’s.
Joe Greene
Defensive Tackle | 1969-1981
Bob Labriola, amongst others, have said that Joe Greene was probably the most significant player in the history of the franchise.
I can’t disagree with them. Joe has been my favorite Steeler. He’s been my second favorite. He’s been my third favorite.
But never lower than that.
Before Joe Greene came to Pittsburgh you could say the Steelers didn’t know how to win. Joe Greene, the presence, the aura, the sheer personality of the man changed that. “Mean” Joe was a man among boys: a Hall of Famer, selected to 10 Pro Bowls, eight All-Pro teams and twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a four-time Super Bowl champion.
But none of those accolades really tell the tale of Joe Greene.
The players all say that Joe was the voice of the team. I think he saved Terry Bradshaw’s career. He was the heart and soul of the team through the 70’s. He’s one of only two players in the history of the team to have their jersey officially retired. That in and of itself speaks volumes about the impact Joe Greene had on the team.
The headline after he was drafted read “Who’s Joe Greene?”.
I think after all the years, and all the championships, and all the memories, we know who he is. He is the face of the franchise.
