Dick Haley, a former director of personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers who is widely regarded as the mastermind behind the four Super Bowl-winning dynasty in the 1970s, passed away on Friday at the age of 85, his family said.
Dick Haley’s Cause of Death
What happened to the Former NFL star and Steelers exec? After a protracted battle with dementia and Parkinson’s disease, Haley, a cornerback who spent some time in the NFL before entering the Steelers’ front office in 1971, passed yesterday, his son and former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said on Twitter.
“A man who provided me with the best opportunity to thrive in this world. After a protracted battle with dementia and Parkinson’s disease, my father Richard Haley. DAD, I adore you!”
Friday saw the release of a statement from Steelers President Art Rooney II, who credited Haley with “a vital role in our remarkable success in the 1970s.”
“With Dick Haley’s departure, we lost a better man and a brilliant football mind. He contributed significantly to this team for 23 years, spending the first four as a player and the remaining 19 as a member of the Player Personnel Department “Rooney read his statement.
“Dick played an instrumental role in our unprecedented success in the 1970s during the second part of his career. He developed a unique eye for talent, and he ultimately helped identify and draft many of the players that allowed us to win four Super Bowls during that decade.”
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers won four Super Bowls during Haley’s leadership and selected seven future Hall of Famers. From 1991 through 2007, Haley also worked for the New York Jets as their director of personnel.