Matthew Rooney, grandson of Pittsburgh Steelers legendary founder Art Rooney, has passed away at his East Hampton, New York home on August 15, 2025. He was 51.
“The Rooney Family is mourning the loss of Matthew,” a Steelers spokesperson said in a statement to The Post. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born on November 11, 1973, in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, to JoAnn Wallace Rooney and John J. Rooney, Matthew grew up in a family deeply connected to the iconic NFL franchise. His father was a minority shareholder in the Steelers until selling a majority of his stake in 2009.
A graduate of NYU with a Bachelor of Arts and Columbia University with a Master’s degree, Matthew Rooney was a writer, artist, and devoted lover of ballet and opera. He split his time between New York and Los Angeles before settling in Brooklyn Heights and East Hampton. His family remembered him for his “wit, charm, and love of fashion,” calling him “one of life’s last true Dandies and an authentic Bob Viviant.”
Matthew served as vice chair of the donor arm of the New York City Ballet’s Allegro Circle and was a member of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Opera of New York. Fashion designer Joshua Kamei shared on Instagram: “I was saddened to hear about the passing of Matthew Rooney. I didn’t know him well, but he was always a kind, familiar face at the ballet — someone who had a special way of making others feel welcome and celebrated.”
He is survived by his mother, four older siblings, 15 nieces and nephews, and 18 great nieces and nephews.
The Rooney family has owned the Pittsburgh Steelers since Art Rooney founded the team in 1933. Matthew’s cousin, Art Rooney II, now serves as the team’s owner and president.
