Super Steelers-era director of player personnel Dick Haley dies at 85
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Dick Haley, a Western Pennsylvania native and Pitt graduate who helped assemble the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s, has died.
He was 85.
“We lost an amazing football mind and a better man with the passing of Dick Haley,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “He was a valuable part of this franchise for 23 years, the first four of those as a player and the final 19 as a member of the player personnel department.
“Dick played an instrumental role in our unprecedented success in the 1970s during the second part of his career. He developed a unique eye for talent, and he ultimately helped identify and draft many of the players that allowed us to win four Super Bowls during that decade.
“My condolences go out to the entire Haley family during this difficult time.”
Steelers President Art Rooney II on the passing of Dick Haley: pic.twitter.com/SDWoGjYuKJ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 10, 2023
A Midway native, Haley served in his role atop the Steelers personnel department from 1971-90, nearly concurrent with the tenure of coach Chuck Noll. The Steelers won Super Bowls at the end of the 1974, ’75, ’78 and ’79 seasons. During Haley’s tenure, the Steelers drafted (or signed as an undrafted rookie) seven Hall of Fame players.
“People didn’t have scouting departments and player information then,” Haley once recalled, as relayed on the Steelers’ official website in a story about his passing Friday. “The Rooneys started by having a guy go to every college in the country, and (each scout would) have their own territory. All the scouts went to schools in their area. We started seeing all the players and got accurate measurements for the first time of their height, weight, and speed. None of that was available before. It was a big factor in the early years.”
Along with personnel director Art Rooney Jr., scout Bill Nunn and Noll, Haley was part of the historic 1974 Steelers draft that is often cited as the greatest team class in NFL history. Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster and Donnie Shell all made the Hall of Fame from that draft class (Shell was signed as an undrafted free agent after the draft ended).
“Very sorry to say, the world, the NFL and my entire family lost one of the best people I’ve ever known and my idol,” a post to the Twitter account of Dick Haley’s son, Todd, read. “A man that gave me the best chance to succeed in this world. My father Dick Haley after long fight with dementia and Parkinson’s. I love you DAD!”
Todd Haley served as Steelers offensive coordinator from 2012-17.
Very sorry to say , the world , the NFL and my entire family lost one of the best people I’ve ever known and my idol. A man that gave me the best chance to succeed in this world. My father Dick Haley after long fight with dementia and Parkinson’s. I love you DAD! #steelers #NFL
— Todd Haley (@thetoddhaley) March 10, 2023
A running back at Pitt from 1956-58, Dick Haley played mostly on defense over six seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Steelers. Haley started 39 of his 49 games played for the Steelers between 1961-64, making 13 interceptions and scoring a touchdown.
As a college player, Haley led Pitt in rushing as a senior. He was part of the Panthers’ Gator Bowl team in 1956.
After parting ways with the Steelers, Haley later served as director of player personnel for the New York Jets and had a stint as a player personnel analyst for the Miami Dolphins. He was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Todd Haley, an Upper St. Clair High School alumnus, followed up a three-year stint as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs by directing the Steelers’ offense for six seasons. He currently serves as head coach of the USFL’s Memphis Showboats.
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