Dan Rooney on Gene Upshaw

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney said Gene Upshaw's "biggest asset was his understanding of the business of the game, and you always knew that his concern for the game’s best interests guided his actions." Rooney posted the following statement on the team's web site just minutes ago:

This is a sad day for all of professional football. We are shocked to learn of the sudden loss of Gene Upshaw. The NFL and the entire football world will miss him greatly.

Gene and I developed a close friendship that remained strong through the good times and some of the NFL’s most difficult challenges. We worked very closely on key issues that allowed the NFL to maintain unprecedented labor peace. His biggest asset was his understanding of the business of the game, and you always knew that his concern for the game’s best interests guided his actions.

Gene was a Super Bowl champion and a very deserving member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Our prayers go out to Gene’s wife Terri and his entire family. We will miss Gene, but his positive contributions to the NFL will have a lasting impact for many years to come.