Former Steelers Coach Bill Cowher Selects Hall Of Fame Presenter

PITTSBURGH, PA — Steelers owner Art Rooney II will be the presenter for former coach Bill Cowher's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, this summer.

Rooney and Cowher made the announcement Wednesday via Twitter.

"My presenter is going to be Art Rooney," Cowher said. "I called Art up and I said Art, you're the only one because you knew me before and you knew me after. You knew what our family was all about because it's all about dynamics of family. I was working for one, we vacationed together,
we were one big family. Yes, you're held accountable. Yes, you had to make tough decisions. But no one knew me better, or knows me better than Art Rooney. And it's an honor to have you present me."

Rooney said he is honored to be Cowher's presenter.

"I was sitting at home and my phone rang and it's Bill and I had no idea what he was calling about," he said. " When he told me this, I was really just speechless. It is going to be a great honor. Having worked with Bill that close for 15 years, and knowing each other, and having our families grow up together, it just so happened our kids were about the same age, so it was a fantastic 15 years and it's great our relationship has continued until today. It's going to be a special time, that's for sure."

A Crafton native, Cowher, 63, coached the Steelers from 1992 through 1996 and won Super Bowl XL. He currently is a studio analyst with The NFL Today on CBS.