sz. Pittsburgh Mourns a Legend: Steelers Icon, Super Bowl Hero, and the Heart of the Black & Gold Gone Too Soon at 51
“Once a Rooney, Always a Part of Steelers Nation.” 💛🖤
Pittsburgh, PA – August 22, 2025
The city of Pittsburgh is grieving tonight — not just for a man, but for a legacy.
Matthew Joseph Rooney, grandson of Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr., has passed away at his home in East Hampton on August 15, at the age of 51.
For generations, the name Rooney has been inseparable from Pittsburgh football — a name that stands for loyalty, resilience, and the deep, unshakable bond between a city and its team. But Matthew’s story was different. He wasn’t the man under the lights or on the sidelines — he was the soul behind the curtain, carrying the family spirit into a different kind of art.
While his family built a football dynasty, Matthew built a life defined by culture, intellect, and heart. He was a writer, a painter, and a man of extraordinary taste — someone who could discuss opera with the same passion his grandfather once spoke of touchdowns. Friends describe him as witty, charming, and always true to himself — a man who lived life not for applause, but for meaning.
“He was one of life’s last true Dandies,” one close friend said. “A Bon Vivant in every sense — full of laughter, grace, and an appreciation for the beauty most people overlook.”
In a statement, the Steelers organization said:
“The Rooney family is mourning the loss of Matthew. He will always be remembered as part of our story and our pride.”
That story — the story of the Rooneys — is more than a football legacy. It’s a story about community, integrity, and love for the city that has given them everything. Matthew may have chosen a quieter life, but his impact was deeply felt. Through his art and words, he carried forward the same values his family instilled into the DNA of Steelers Nation — loyalty, humility, and devotion to something greater than oneself.
On Thursday morning, a funeral Mass will be held in Pittsburgh, followed by a private burial attended by close family. In true Rooney tradition, the ceremony will be simple but filled with heart — no fanfare, no spotlight, just love.
Fans across the nation have already begun sharing tributes online — stories of how the Rooney family’s legacy shaped not only the team, but the city’s identity. “They built more than a franchise,” one fan wrote. “They built a family — and Matthew was part of that heartbeat.”
As candles flicker outside Acrisure Stadium and Terrible Towels wave one more time under the night sky, the message is clear:
Though he’s gone, Matthew Rooney will always belong to Pittsburgh. His life reminds us that greatness isn’t only measured in championships, but in character — in the quiet ways one gives, creates, and loves.
Rest in peace, Matthew.
Your name, your kindness, and your spirit will live on — in every fan’s heart, in every Sunday cheer, and in every story this city tells.
💛 Once a Rooney. Always a Steeler. Always Pittsburgh. 🖤
