A Different Way to Win: Dan Rooney's Story from the Super Bowl to the Rooney Rule

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 331 ratings

Price: 15.75

Last update: 12-18-2024


About this item

Dan Rooney was one of the most influential sports executives of his generation—the man who transformed the Pittsburgh Steelers into one of the National Football League's greatest dynasties and premiere franchises. Some of Dan Rooney’s most important achievements, however, took place off the playing field as he sought to bring about equity in the league's hiring practices and peace in his ancestral homeland of Ireland. As a business leader, a philanthropist, a diplomat, and the author of the famous Rooney Rule—the pioneering hiring policy that promotes diverse leadership within the NFL—Dan Rooney was known for his core values, his quiet strength, his effectiveness, and his willingness to talk to and hear from those who disagreed with him.

In A Different Way to Win, Jim Rooney takes listeners behind the scenes and share stories of Dan Rooney’s life and achievements. This expanded audio edition of A Different Way to Win includes newly recorded conversations with business and political leaders, and some of the sports world’s biggest names, including Roger Goodell, Paul Tagliabue, Franco Harris, Mel Blount, Judy Battista, Art Rooney II, and more, with a prologue read by Bill Cowher and a foreword read by Joe Greene. The insights from the stories and conversations shared in this audiobook teach us that there’s a different way to lead and A Different Way to Win.

Read by Jim Rooney, Bill Cowher, and Joe Greene and featuring interviews with Roger Goodell, Paul Tagliabue, Art Rooney II, Mel Blount, James "Shack" Harris, Rocky Bleier, Cyrus Mehri, Ray Anderson, Judy Battista, N. Jeremi Duru, Mike Tomlin and Franco Harris.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Sara M. Howley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read and perfect gift.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2019
    I originally read this book since I have the utmost respect for the Rooney family and admire their approach to all things family, business and philanthropy. After reading it, I bought 20 copies for Christmas gifts for my friends and family. It is a refreshing read about Dan Rooney and his amazing ability to lead a football franchise, a large family and as the representative of the US in Ireland as ambassador. It has important excepts that can be applied to everyone's life, not just anyone who walks in similar shoes to Mr. Rooney. His moral, ethical and most importantly faithful approach to all challenges in life, personal and professional, leave a lasting impression. The fact that it is written by his son makes it even more precious and certainly gives it credibility in the fact that this is someone who knew his subject in an extremely personal way. Excellent read and we need more leaders and examples in our lives like Mr. Dan Rooney. I really think this is a great read for everyone but I have purchased for several young adults in my life. They need all the help they can get with the right examples in life and this book showcases a fantastic example of an appropriate legend to emulate. I highly recommend it.
    Customer image
    Sara M. Howley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read and perfect gift.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2019
    I originally read this book since I have the utmost respect for the Rooney family and admire their approach to all things family, business and philanthropy. After reading it, I bought 20 copies for Christmas gifts for my friends and family. It is a refreshing read about Dan Rooney and his amazing ability to lead a football franchise, a large family and as the representative of the US in Ireland as ambassador. It has important excepts that can be applied to everyone's life, not just anyone who walks in similar shoes to Mr. Rooney. His moral, ethical and most importantly faithful approach to all challenges in life, personal and professional, leave a lasting impression. The fact that it is written by his son makes it even more precious and certainly gives it credibility in the fact that this is someone who knew his subject in an extremely personal way. Excellent read and we need more leaders and examples in our lives like Mr. Dan Rooney. I really think this is a great read for everyone but I have purchased for several young adults in my life. They need all the help they can get with the right examples in life and this book showcases a fantastic example of an appropriate legend to emulate. I highly recommend it.
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  • Brittany
    5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing approach to leadership and life
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2019
    This book tells an inspiring story of the importance of taking different perspectives into account, systematically considering your options and making decisions that will pay off over the long haul. Through its four themes (the NFL, the Steelers of the 70s, Ireland and the Rooney Rule), the story demonstrates how this approach works, time after time. The way that Dan Rooney always respected others, including those with opinions differing from his own, while also maintaining his own principles is something our world needs now more than ever. This book recounts this refreshing approach to leadership and life. It is an easy and interesting read with bits of humor as well. Great gift for football fans, Steelers fans, those interested in Ireland and business leaders.
  • Bob Albanesi
    4.0 out of 5 stars The man on and off the field
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020
    It is well written and clearly provides info about the man, Dan, his philosophy and his accomplishments, both with the NFL and for the people of Ireland. It sheds a new light on his path to success .
  • jpopson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Dan Rooney and Steeler history book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2024
    Dan’s son shares many of his dads experiences and conversations with former Steelers and others he came across in his involvement in the NFL.Very interesting book for every Steeler fan to read how Dan dealt with some of the issues and concerns of some of the Steeler players.His son tells the unvarnished truth of what his father and grandfather had to deal with as owners of the Steelers.Worth reading.
  • SLP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2019
    Being a Pittsburgher but not a huge football fan, I found this book to be surprisingly fantastic! Everyone in Pittsburgh knows who the Rooney family is. They are our version of royalty, but what I did not know was how humble and down to earth Dan Rooney was. Growing up here, I just knew him as the face of the Steelers. I had no idea the incredible things that he did in his life that were greater than football. Truly a remarkable individual that I wish was still alive. His contributions will live on for years to come. I learned so much from this book about the man behind the Steelers. A great read for anyone from Pittsburgh, a Steelers fan (of course) or anyone that just wants to read about a great human being that made his time on earth worth something!
  • Juan Moreno
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2020
    This book is great, it outlines the legacy of Dan Rooney. It takes you on a journey of what he had to do in order to fight for diversity in the NFL. The book is well written and is mostly about stories of Dan Rooney. The book is a great read, easily digestable and it might even spark a fire in you.
  • Stan
    3.0 out of 5 stars Black and Gold Blood
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2019
    This book is an easy read and in many ways very insightful on Dan Rooney’s influence to the game and the world. I’m a Steelers fan so it’s in my black and gold blood to be a fan of Dan Rooney. That said, I believe the section on the Steelers turning around to become a winning franchise was a bit thin, especially on the impact of “staying the course” and not having a turn style in the coaches office. Lastly, the final section on Dan’s impact to Diversity in the NFL is great, but is horribly lacking in citations, especially where statistics are referenced. This book is worth reading, but I do think it could be better.
  • G. Quiñones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2020
    This is a great read for anyone who loves the history of sports or sports in general. Being an avid fan of the NFL, I really never heard about what the Rooney Rule was and what it meant. Dan Rooney's son Jim goes into great detail on what his father had to go through to bring in diversity and inclusion into the NFL. Overall this book was a very good read and is highly recommended that you read this if you are a fan of the NFL or if you are a sports fan overall.

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