A pair of high-ranking NFL officials yesterday said that late Steelers Owner Dan Rooney's passing in April will have no effect "at all" on the team's family ownership structure, according to Ed Bouchette of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash said, "I don’t mean to sound remotely cavalier about Dan Rooney’s passing; you cannot replace a Dan Rooney. But from the standpoint of ownership structure and continuity, they are in, I think, a very good position. The family ownership I would think can be expected to continue for many, many, many years to come.” Bouchette notes together, Dan and his son, Steelers President Art Rooney II, owned "slightly more" than 30% of the team after a reorganization of ownership in '09. Dan Rooney’s stock was "placed in a trust at the time" and it "will remain there, although at some point moves may be made to distribute it." NFL VP/Legal & Business Affairs Jay Bauman said, “From the ownership rules perspective, from the league’s perspective, we would look that Art is owning a necessary percentage and has necessary control whether it’s through a trust or company or otherwise, which he does. The family owns the requisite percentage collectively." Bouchette notes the "only visible change since Dan Rooney’s death was the addition of Dan Rooney Jr. to the public list of the Steelers ownership group" on Page 8 of the team’s '17 media guide. A younger brother of Art Rooney II, he is "one of 19 men listed as part of ownership and one of five Rooneys in the group." Pash: "The family ownership structure is in all respects in full compliance with league rules" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/3).
