Steelers vice president Art Rooney Jr., former coach Buddy Parker named Hall of Fame finalists

Bill Hartlep | Wednesday, July 27, 2022 2:54 p.m.

Football executive for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney Jr. is pictured, in Aug. 1975.

The Pittsburgh Steelers took over the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies last summer when five members of the organization were inducted as part of the Classes of 2020 and 2021.

The Steelers could have another inductee in 2023.

On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 12 finalists for the Coach/Contributor category, including two from the Steelers organization — Art Rooney Jr. and Buddy Parker.

Rooney Jr., who was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in 2018, was the team’s personnel director from 1965-86. The brother of late owner Dan Rooney, he helped scout, draft and sign 10 future Hall of Fame players and helped construct teams that won four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s. He has been the team’s vice president since 1987.

Parker coached the Steelers to a 51-47-6 record from 1957-64. He was 104-75-9 in his career, which also included stints with the Chicago Cardinals (1949) and Detroit Lions (1951-56). He won two championships with the Lions before the NFL merger. Parker died in 1982.

Other finalists in the Coach/Contributor category are Roone Arledge, Don Coryell, Mike Holmgren, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Dan Reeves, Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy and John Wooten.

The Hall of Fame Coach/Contributor committee will meet Aug. 23 to select one coach or contributor for final consideration.