Jim O'Brien: Pittsburgh Lucky That Chuck Noll Came Our Way
PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan) - Local sports author Jim O'Brien joined Bob Pompeani Saturday to remember Chuck Noll.
"Pittsburgh was lucky that Chuck Noll came our way, Bob," O'Brien said. "He showed the Rooneys how to run a successful football franchise, and he showed the rest of us how to be a good man -- how to be a good father, how to be a good husband, and how to be a decent human being."
O'Brien said that Noll was not the Steelers' first choice for head coach in 1969.
"Joe Paterno was (Dan) Rooney's first choice, and there were several other retreads in the coaching profession that the Steelers talked to or expressed interest in," O'Brien said.
O'Brien added that former Steelers stockholder and NFL commissioner Bert Bell's son, Upton, recommended Noll to Rooney.