Steelers’ reps Art Rooney Jr., Buddy Parker survive latest round of Hall of Fame voting
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The Pittsburgh Steelers had both of their representatives make the cut in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s coach/contributor category.
Art Rooney Jr., who presided over the team’s scouting efforts for more than two decades, and former coach Buddy Parker are among the 12 candidates that reached the latest round of balloting.
One step remains.
Committee members will meet Aug. 15 to select one coach or contributor for final consideration for the Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. In addition to Rooney and Parker, the other semifinalists include Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy, Lloyd Wells and John Wooten.
Rooney was among the semifinalists last year when Don Coryell was named the finalist. He will be enshrined next week in Canton, Ohio.
Employed by the Steelers since 1961, Art Rooney Jr. moved into the scouting department in 1964 and oversaw the drafting of multiple players that helped the Steelers win four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s. He continued in his scouting department role until 1986, and Rooney Jr. remains on the team’s board of directors and serves as a vice president.
Parker coached the Steelers from 1957-64 and had a 51-47-6 record.