The Pittsburgh Steelers will be honoring one of the franchise’s most important figures during the 2017-18 NFL season.
On Monday, the Steelers announced they will be wearing special jersey patches to pay tribute to the late Chairman of the Steelers, Dan Rooney. Rooney passed away earlier this year at age 84.
The patch will feature Rooney’s initials, “DMR,” while also featuring a black and gold shamrock. The black and gold is an obvious tie-in to the Steelers’ colors, while the shamrock honors his proud Irish heritage.
Rooney served as United States Ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012.
Pittsburgh unveiled the jersey patch on Twitter.
We will wear a patch on our jerseys this season to honor Dan Rooney.
MORE: https://t.co/SRUWiTQUtC pic.twitter.com/d2cSr2xEbo
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 24, 2017
“We wanted to have something my dad would be proud of and really called out parts of his life that were important to him,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement. “The shamrock is something he would be happy about.
“I know he wouldn’t want us to make too much of a fuss. I think wearing a jersey patch, he would be proud of that. It’s a great way for all of us to remember what he meant to each one of us and what he meant to the organization.”
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