Father and son Rooney retain control of NFL Steelers

The National Football League has approved a proposal by the Pittsburgh Steelers that maintained control of the franchise under chairman Dan Rooney and president Art Rooney.

The father and son will own a 30 percent interest to meet the league requirement on the equity interest of controlling ownership.

"We are obviously very pleased to be keeping the Steelers' ownership within the Rooney family and are appreciative of our fellow NFL owners' support," Dan Rooney said.

"(Wednesday's) vote ensures that the Rooney family will be associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL for a very long time."

The approval allowed Dan Rooney's four brothers to sell their shares in the franchise, keeping the team in the family but also allowing three new partners to come into the fold.

Two brothers sold their full 16 percent shares while the other two sold eight percent each to Dan Rooney and his son.

James Haslam of Knoxville, Tennessee, Thomas Tull of Los Angeles, and the Paul family, based in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles are the new partners.