On July 29, 2000, Dan Rooney Sr. stood on the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as Joe Greene presented him with his Gold Jacket, a symbol of greatness for the best of the best in the NFL.
A day later, though, Rooney was back to work, the Gold Jacket likely on a hanger somewhere, only to be worn when it was specially requested for Hall of Fame events.
Because wearing it, and tooting his own horn, isn't what Dan Rooney Sr. was about.
It was quite the opposite.
But Steelers fans now have the opportunity to see Rooney's Gold Jacket at the Hall of Honor Museum, along with personal letters, photos and other items that belonged to him.
Rooney, who passed away in 2017, was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor, one of the NFL's most influential owners and a pivotal figure in the growth and development of the league.
Throughout the years Rooney had been a member of the board of directors for the NFL Trust Fund, NFL Films, and the Scheduling Committee. He was appointed Chairman of the League's Expansion Committee in 1973, eventually adding Seattle and Tampa Bay to the NFL in 1976.
Rooney was named Chairman of the Negotiating Committee in 1976, and in 1982 he contributed to the negotiations for the Collective Bargaining Agreement for NFL owners and the Players Association. He brought a calm, reasonable approach to labor relations, and was a driving force in the labor agreement again in 1993. Rooney has also been a member of the Management Council Executive Committee, the Hall of Fame Committee, the NFL Properties Executive Committee, and the Player/Club Operations Committee. He served as the President of the Steelers from 1975 until 2003, when he turned it over to his son, Art Rooney II, and he became the Chairman. He later went on to be the force behind the Rooney Rule in 2003, which required NFL teams to interview a minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. He also served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland.