The day Dan Rooney was named chairman of a National Football League diversity and inclusion committee, John Wooten picked up the phone in triumph and called two of his friends.
“Hey, we won,” Mr. Wooten said to the two men on the other end. “We have just won.”
Even as a longtime Cleveland Browns star, Mr. Wooten knew he had an ally in the Steelers president. And with that, the first steps were taken toward Mr. Rooney’s furthest-reaching achievement.
Beyond the boundless impact he had on his own organization, Mr. Rooney, the Steelers chairman and owner who died Thursday at 84, will forever be synonymous with efforts in athletics to encourage opportunities for minority coaches.