Timothy James Rooney: Pittsburgh Steelers Family, Art Rooney’s Son, and NFL Legacy

Timothy James Rooney is one of the sons of Art Rooney Sr., the man who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 1933. Born on August 8, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Timothy held a partial ownership stake in one of the NFL’s most successful franchises until 2009. While he’s less publicly recognized than his brother Dan Rooney, Timothy played a real role in the family’s sports and business empire — particularly in the world of horse and dog racing.

Early Life in Pittsburgh

Timothy James Rooney grew up in Pittsburgh during the late 1930s and 1940s, surrounded by a family that was already deeply embedded in the city’s sports culture. His father, Art Rooney Sr., had purchased the Pittsburgh Pirates (later renamed the Steelers) for $2,500 in 1933 — a franchise that would go on to become one of the most storied in NFL history. Growing up as one of five Rooney brothers, Timothy was exposed to the worlds of professional football, horse racing, and business from a young age. He went on to attend Duquesne University, where he earned a degree in finance in 1961, building the academic foundation for his later career in sports management and racing operations.

The Rooney Family

The Rooneys aren’t just any NFL ownership family — they’re a dynasty. Art Rooney Sr. built the franchise from the ground up during the Great Depression, and his sons carried the family’s legacy forward across multiple generations. Timothy’s brother Dan Rooney served as the Steelers’ chairman and later became the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland under President Obama. Together, the five Rooney brothers — Dan, Art Jr., Tim, John, and Pat — shared ownership responsibilities for the Steelers for decades. The family’s influence on the NFL extends well beyond Pittsburgh, with the “Rooney Rule” (requiring teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions) named after Dan Rooney in 2003.

Pittsburgh Steelers Legacy

As a partial owner, Timothy James Rooney was part of the ownership group during one of the most dominant periods in NFL history. The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowl championships — four of them during the legendary 1970s dynasty (Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV) and two more in 2005 and 2008. Timothy held his ownership stake until 2009, when the NFL required the Rooney family to consolidate its ownership interests. Under the league’s rules, only one family member could serve as the controlling owner, so Dan Rooney’s branch retained the primary stake while Timothy and other brothers divested their shares. It was the end of an era for the broader family’s direct involvement in the franchise, but the Steelers remain a Rooney-owned team to this day.

Racing Ventures

Outside of football, Timothy carved out his own professional identity in the racing industry. He served as president of Yonkers Raceway in New York, one of the country’s premier harness racing venues, a role he held from 1972 onward. Under his leadership, the raceway remained one of the most successful tracks in the Standardbred racing world. He also had ties to the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida, reflecting the Rooney family’s long-standing interests in both horse and greyhound racing. These ventures weren’t just sidelines — the Rooney family’s involvement in racing actually predated their football ownership, with Art Rooney Sr. having been a well-known figure at racetracks before he ever bought an NFL team.

The Rooney-Mara Connection

One of the most fascinating threads in American sports history is the connection between the Rooney and Mara families — two of the NFL’s founding dynasties. Timothy’s niece, Kathleen McNulty Rooney, married Timothy Christopher Mara, whose family founded the New York Giants. That marriage linked two families who’ve been involved in professional football since the 1920s and 1930s. The couple’s daughters, Kate Mara and Rooney Mara, went on to become major Hollywood actresses. Rooney Mara’s stage name even draws from both family legacies — Rooney from her father’s side of the family. It’s a rare case where two NFL ownership bloodlines merged and produced genuine Hollywood stars.

Personal Life

Timothy James Rooney has largely stayed out of the public spotlight compared to other members of his family. While his brother Dan became a public figure through the Steelers’ championship runs and his ambassadorship, Timothy focused on running the family’s racing operations and living a more private life. Now 88 years old, he remains part of the extended Rooney family that continues to hold enormous influence in American professional sports. His legacy is tied not just to the Steelers’ six Super Bowl trophies, but to the broader Rooney family’s reputation as one of the most respected ownership groups in all of professional sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Timothy James Rooney?

Timothy James Rooney is one of the five sons of Art Rooney Sr., the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was born on August 8, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served as a partial owner of the Steelers until 2009 and ran Yonkers Raceway, a major harness racing venue in New York.

How is Timothy James Rooney related to Kate Mara and Rooney Mara?

Kate Mara and Rooney Mara are Timothy’s great-nieces. His niece Kathleen McNulty Rooney married Timothy Christopher Mara of the New York Giants family, and their daughters are the two actresses. The Rooney-Mara marriage connected two of the NFL’s most prominent ownership families.

Why did Timothy James Rooney sell his Steelers ownership stake?

In 2009, the NFL required the Rooney family to consolidate its ownership structure. Under league rules, only one branch of the family could serve as the controlling owner. Dan Rooney’s branch retained the primary stake, and Timothy and the other brothers divested their shares.

What did Timothy James Rooney do outside of football?

Timothy served as president of Yonkers Raceway in New York, one of the top harness racing tracks in the country, starting in 1972. He also had connections to the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida, continuing the Rooney family’s long history in horse and greyhound racing.

How many Super Bowls have the Pittsburgh Steelers won?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowl championships — in 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, and 2008. Timothy James Rooney was part of the ownership group for all six of those wins before divesting his stake in 2009.

Related Profiles

• Kate Mara — Actress and Rooney-Mara family member
• Kathleen McNulty Rooney — Timothy’s niece who married into the Mara family
• Rooney Mara — Actress named after both the Rooney and Mara football dynasties
• Timothy Christopher Mara — New York Giants family, married Kathleen Rooney