Tim Rooney, who served as the Giants' director of pro personnel from 1985 to 1999 and helped build six championship teams from the time he began working in the NFL for the Steelers in 1972, passed away Tuesday morning.
"Tim was an invaluable member of our player personnel department for 14 seasons as our director of pro personnel," Giants President & CEO John Mara said. "He was an accomplished evaluator. More importantly, he was a great person and colleague. Our thoughts are with Tim's wife Mary Ann and children and grandchildren and friends, of which there are many."
Rooney joined the Giants in February of 1985 as director of pro personnel, a role in which he served until his retirement in June of 1999. Recruited by Hall of Fame general manager George Young, Rooney helped the Giants to their first two Super Bowl titles in franchise history, winning it all in 1986 and 1990. Along the way, he became close friends with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells.
"He was a great guy," Parcells told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "When you're a head coach, you need someone to tell you the truth. Tim was our pro personnel guy, and that was his job. We had daily interaction every day talking about the roster. We had a lot of talks and became close. That enhanced our relationship. He understood me, and I understood him."
Parcells recalled a story about a key player acquisition that came as a result from their bond.
"I wasn't in a good mood because things weren't going well," Parcells said. "He walks into my office and asks me to take a look at this guy on film. Well, I didn't want to be diverted, but he said just take a look at one play. I looked at the play, and it was executed very well. He talked me into watching two or three more. The player was Reyna Thompson, who turned out to be the best special teams player I ever had."
Prior to the Giants, Rooney spent six seasons as the Lions' player personnel director. He was the director of pro personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972 to 1979 during their ascendancy to dynasty status.
Rooney, a nephew of Art Rooney, the founder of the Steelers, earned a degree in Education and English from Duquesne University, then began a coaching career at Canevin High School in Pittsburgh. Four years later, he became an assistant coach at Villanova, moved to Rhode Island University, and then back to Villanova as an assistant coach and recruiting director before joining the Steelers.
