Steelers Respond After Trump Named 'Honorary' Team Member

PITTSBURGH, PA ? The Steelers are distancing themselves from the current and former players who attended President Donald Trump's rally in Pittsburgh last Friday and proclaimed him "an honorary Steeler."

The team apparently sent a message to anyone that emailed about the Steelers' presence at Trump's rally at US Steel's Irivn Works in West Mifflin, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Triblive reported.

"We understand that a recent rally in Pittsburgh has generated a range of reactions from our fan base," both news organizations reported that the message stated. "Our alumni and current players
make their own individual decisions that reflect their views, and they do not necessarily represent the view of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization."

Current Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and safety Miles Killebrew, along with former Steelers running back Rocky Bleier, appeared onstage with Trump at the rally. Bleier told Trump he was an honorary Steeler and presented him with a Steelers jersey bearing his name with the number 47 on it. Trump is the nation's 47th president.

"I'd like to present this to a Hall of Fame president," Bleier said.

The late Dan Rooney, the former Steelers chairman and the father of current Steelers owner Art Rooney II, served as ambassador to Ireland under President Barack Obama, a Democrat.