Pittsburgh Steelers

In 1933, with a $2,500 franchise fee, Arthur "Art" Rooney founded a professional football team in Pittsburgh. Initially named the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team struggled for decades, posting only one winning season in its first ten years and temporarily merging with other teams during World War II just to field a roster. Rooney's focus was on stability and keeping the team in his city, often using personal funds to keep the franchise afloat during its difficult early years. A significant turning point came in 1940 when the team was rebranded as the Steelers, a name reflecting Pittsburgh's industrial identity. However, the franchise's fortunes truly changed with key strategic decisions decades later. The hiring of coach Chuck Noll in 1969 and a series of masterful draft picks in the early 1970s built one of the most successful dynasties in professional sports. The team's ownership structure is a core part of its story. The franchise has remained within the Rooney family since its founding. This consistency faced a major test in 2008 when an ownership restructuring was required to comply with NFL policies after some family members expanded into gaming operations. Dan Rooney, Art's son, and his own son, Art Rooney II, consolidated control, taking on new investors to preserve the family's leadership. This event reinforced the family's long-term commitment, a principle that has defined the organization from a struggling startup into a league benchmark.