The Steelers organisation is very much a family business for the Rooneys. Five members of the family still work in the front office, including Art II’s eldest son Dan.
He is currently director of business development and strategy and this week was part of a Steelers contingent that visited Newry, an hour’s drive from Dublin, just across the border in Northern Ireland.
“[While I was] growing up, my grandfather and father always talked about their love for Ireland, so this is a dream come true for the Rooney family,” he told the BBC.
“Making sure we engage with the island and its people is something my grandfather cared deeply about, and we’re doing that in a big way this week.”
While back in his ancestors’ hometown, Rooney announced two scholarships for local pupils via the Ireland Funds, along with grants for their schools.
The team also held a flag football event in Belfast, one of many community events they have organised across the island of Ireland before Dublin becomes the sixth international city to host a regular-season NFL game.
Almost one in 10 Americans have Irish heritage – including NFL executive Peter O’Reilly and Pittsburgh’s new quarterback Aaron Rodgers – which is partly why more than 30,000 international visitors are expected this weekend.
“There’s not another international game where that connection between the team, the owners and the country is this deep,” said O’Reilly.
“Seeing NFL fans in Dublin and such an iconic stadium being transformed, it’s really special.”
Rodgers, a four-time MVP, added: “This game means a lot to all of us so we want to represent the team and the Rooney legacy well.
“Being a part of the first game in Ireland is pretty cool. I have Irish heritage, so I’m very excited to get out there.”
While Rodgers is new to the organisation, head coach Mike Tomlin has been the Steelers’ head coach since 2007 and remembers their former president fondly.
“I think a lot about the late Ambassador Rooney and how fired up he would be about this trip, and how important the development of this trip was for him,” he said.
“Man, you talk about a guy who certainly had a lot of passion for Ireland, and obviously for the Steelers, and then serving as Ambassador. I’m sure he’s going to be smiling down at us this weekend.”
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