FORT WORTH, Texas — Here's one of the cool things about playing for the Steelers. Team owner Dan Rooney is just a phone call away.
“We call the owner ‘Papa Rooney,’ ” safety Troy Polamalu said. “People have his cell phone (number). He’s got a really unique view on how a successful franchise should be run, and how the team should be run, and how the atmosphere in the locker room and within the building should be. I think other owners could learn from that.”
The Steelers success isn't hard to figure out, Clifton Brown says. Look no further than owner Dan Rooney, who promotes a family atmosphere in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won six Super Bowls, the most of any franchise, and go for their seventh Sunday. People often discuss the keys to the Steelers’ sustained success. Here is one—the way the Rooney family has run the franchise for decades. It started with team founder Art Rooney. It has continued with his son, Dan, the chairman emeritus and current United States ambassador to Ireland, and Dan’s son, Art Rooney II, the team’s current president.
This is not to suggest that the Steelers are the only classy organization in the NFL. But the Rooney family has created an atmosphere where coaches and players feel like extended family. That has to be an advantage, particularly in a sport where teamwork is so vital.
Players and coaches have talked all week about “The Steeler Way.” Listen to offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
“I’ve been a lot of places, about 14 different cities and colleges, and there’s nothing like the Rooneys,” Arians said. “But Mr. (Dan) Rooney is special. Our players love him. He’s walking through the locker room at all times. Our offices are all on one level. It is special. I don’t know if anybody else can replicate it because he got it from his father, and they’re passing it down through the family.”
Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward found another reason to admire Dan Rooney recently, after he spoke out in opposition to a potential 18-game regular season.
“He’s just speaking what we really feel,” Ward said. “He doesn’t care about that extra half-million or whatever money they make for those two extra games. He worries more about his players and their safety.”
Players who leave the Steelers often find out how different other organizations can be. Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, linebacker Larry Foote and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich all left the Steelers at one point in their careers but have returned. None has regretted coming back. Guess the cliché, "You can’t go home again,” does not apply to the Steelers.
“This is the best organization in sports,” Leftwich said. “People see those six championships and wonder how they do it. The environment they put you in allows you to be successful.”
That environment was seriously tested this season. Ben Roethlisberger had his well-documented off-field issues, which led to a four-game suspension to start the season. Not only did the situation jeopardize Roethlisberger’s career, but it could have jeopardized the Steelers’ season. It was an uncomfortable and embarrassing offseason for the Steelers, with the future of their franchise quarterback in doubt.
Yet, another February finds the Steelers back in the Super Bowl, with a chance to win their third championship in six seasons. Mike Tomlin, who has made the Rooneys look wise for hiring him as their head coach four years ago, said working for the Steelers helps him set the proper tone.
“It’s passed down from generation of Steelers to generation of Steelers, through stories and actions,” Tomlin said. “The young guys who are brought in are taught how we do business. It’s something great to be a part of. It comes from the Rooney family.”
Maybe the Packers will prevent the Steelers from winning their seventh Super Bowl. Maybe the Packers, who have been rolling since Week 16, will culminate their late-season run with a championship.
However, history suggests that the Steelers will be tough to beat. The Steelers like to think of themselves as family.
And their favorite family heirloom is the Lombardi Trophy.
No comments:
Post a Comment