Journalist and Steelers scout Bill Nunn passes at 89

Bill Nunn was a well-respected member of the Pittsburgh Steelers community and the city of Pittsburgh in general.  Nunn, a retired Pittsburgh Courier journalist worked nearly 50 years for the Steelers as a scout.  Previous to his suffering a fatal stroke Tuesday night, Nunn was helping the Steelers organization prepare for the 2014 NFL Draft.  The Steelers will be located in the Bill Nunn Draft Room at team headquarters to select their next draft class.

Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said in a statement, “We have lost a great friend and a great person who did so much for the Steelers organization with the passing of Bill Nunn.  Bill had extraordinary talents in identifying talent throughout his career, including the legendary 1974 NFL draft for us.  He put us ahead of so many other teams in the NFL by leading the efforts of drafting African-American players at traditional black colleges.  Very few people had a bigger impact in the history of our franchise and his positive attitude and contributions will truly be missed.”

Nunn became a full-time scout for Pittsburgh in 1969 and worked with the famed BLESTO group that included Art Rooney, Jr.  Nunn was a pioneer in scouting African-American players and his ability to foster positive relationships with coaches in college in the South allowed the Steelers to set a new trend in the NFL.  In 1974, it was Nunn who was pivotal in steering then head coach Chuck Noll towards selecting Lynn Swann in the first round and John Stallworth later in the draft.  Both men became Pro Football Hall of Famers.

“We lost a legendary man of many talents,” coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.  “His legacy will live on in the stories told, lessons taught and wisdom shared with those of us who remain.”

General manager Kevin Colbert issued the following statement: “[Nunn’s] contributions and dedication to the Pittsburgh Steelers are legendary.  His insight and guidance were always cherished.  Bill’s strong devotion to the city of Pittsburgh and its people were second to none.”

Nunn was a Homewood native, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He attended college at West Virginia State and was a standout at basketball.  His teammate in high school and college, Chuck Cooper, became the first African-American player drafted by the National Basketball Association and another teammate, Early Lloyd was the first African-American to play in an NBA game.  Nunn was recruited by the Harlem Globetrotters,  but chose to work under his father at the Pittsburgh Courier.

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Ed Bouchette did a feature on Nunn’s induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.  Nunn was part of an 11-man inaugural class enshrined into that hall.  The Black College Hall of Fame cited Nunn in this manner:

“Legendary journalist and NFL Scout Bill Nunn entered the newspaper business as a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Courier, where he later rose to sports editor and managing editor. After elevating the Courier’s Black College All-American team to new heights, Nunn joined the Pittsburgh Steelers’ scouting staff part time in 1967 and then full time in 1969. A true innovator, he constructed a bridge between the Steelers and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Five Super Bowl Rings later, Nunn is among the most legendary NFL scouts of all time.”

Nunn actually owned six Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.

Nunn was instrumental in leading the Steelers to draft or sign as free agents the following players (outside of Swann and Stallworth):

L.C. Greenwood (Arkansas AM&N), Mel Blount (Southern), Frank Lewis (Grambling), Dwight White (East Texas State), Joe Gilliam (Tennessee State), Ernie Holmes (Texas Southern) and Donnie Shell (South Carolina State).

Nunn resided in Schenley Heights with his wife Frances.  William (Bill) G. Nunn, III, is an actor and daughter Lynell Wilson is a former U.S. Attorney.

In 2012, Nunn was quoted as having said about Dan Rooney, “I guess he didn’t figure I’d still be part-time 25 years later.  I officially retired in 1987, and I’m still here.  Every year I volunteer, and Art (II) says, ‘Keep coming in.’ I keep telling Dan all the time, ‘the only reason I’m still around is I’m older than you.”

Bill Nunn will be missed in Pittsburgh.