Globally acclaimed sport and business luminary, Art Rooney II,  honoured by the University of Exeter

Globally acclaimed sport and business luminary, Art Rooney II, has been awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of Exeter.

Mr Rooney, Team President of the hugely successful Pittsburgh Steelers NFL team, was bestowed with the Honorary Degree for his achievements in the sporting and business worlds, as well as the impact his philanthropy has had, particularly on the community of Pittsburgh.

The degree was awarded during a special ceremony, held in Pittsburgh on September 23rd 2024, and presided over by Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Exeter, Professor Lisa Roberts.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Professor Roberts said: “We are delighted and immensely proud to honour Art for his tireless work making an outstanding contribution to communities across America.

The impact of Art’s generosity extends far beyond his ownership of the Steelers team.  His philanthropic work includes funding research into concussion in sport through the Chuck Noll Foundation, and he has established the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund, which provides an annual grant to North Catholic High School students.

He also has a long-standing commitment to trying to make a difference to the lives of those living with Type 1 Diabetes.  This is a cause that is close to his heart, and is an area of specialism at the University of Exeter Medical School.

Art and his wife Greta have both been outstanding members of their community, and are dedicated to making Pittsburgh a better place for everybody. It is therefore an enormous honour to award Art with an Honorary Doctorate in Law, and I look forward to welcoming him to the University in the future.”

Art was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is the eldest of nine children of Patricia, and former Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, and the grandson of Steelers’ founder “The Chief”, Art Rooney, Sr. 

In 1978, Art graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and went on to study at Duquesne University’s School of Law, where he earned his Law degree in 1982. During his time at Duquesne University, Art spent the summer studying at the University of Exeter in 1981. Having trained as a lawyer and enjoying a successful legal career, Art followed in the footsteps of his family by playing a key role in the management of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has sat on the board of directors since 1989, served as Vice President and General Counsel and, since 2003, has been Team President.

Under his Presidency the Steelers have twice reached the pinnacle of American sporting achievement by winning the Superbowl, first in 2006 and then again in 2009. Art’s impact on American Football has extended beyond just his ownership of the Steelers – serving on many key committees and sitting on the NFL foundation board. 

In recognition of his philanthropic work in 2017 Art was awarded the Jewish National Fund’s annual humanitarian award. He also oversees support of a number of community engagement initiatives through the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Speaking of his award, Art said: “It is very special to receive this Honorary Doctorate from the University of Exeter. I certainly enjoyed my time on campus at the University of Exeter taking classes in the Law of the EEC (as it was called then). I met some wonderful people there and it was great touring that beautiful part of English countryside.”