The Rooney Rule resonates in unique ways within the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base due to the fact that its origins stem from the team’s late owner, Dan Rooney, and his desire to seek equality of opportunity and diversity within the game that he committed so much of his life to. That is, after all, why it ended up being named after him.
This offseason, his son, Art Rooney II, has been among those in the forefront of the discussion of revising the rule to make it more effective. Unprompted, he pushed for air time early this offseason on NFL Network to talk about the failures of the rule in recent years to increase diversity, and he has been the lead spokesman among owners about the current changes.