Steelers notes: Art Rooney Jr. advances in Hall of Fame consideration; Watt, Austin get weekly honors

Art Rooney Jr. is one step closer to becoming the latest Steelers representative in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A longtime member of the scouting department who was instrumental in building the Super Steelers of the 1970s, Rooney Jr. is one of nine individuals deemed “contributors” who on Wednesday advanced a round in consideration for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

The Hall’s Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee whittled down a previous field of 25 to nine. Contributors were broken out from coaches in a new Hall of Fame format. One will be chosen as a finalist for consideration for the final class, joining 15 modern-era players, three seniors and one coach.

The son of the team’s founder, the 89-year-old Rooney was the Steelers’ personnel director from 1965-86, responsible for the team acquiring 10 future Hall of Fame players en route to winning the Super Bowl four times. He’s currently listed as a vice president of the organization.

Peezy’s return

Like he did for eight seasons a couple of decades ago, Joey Porter worked to rev up the crowd at a Steelers home game once again this past Monday.

Porter was designated as official Terrible Towel twirler before the Steelers’ game against the New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium. As with all of the celebrity twirlers, Porter’s role came with an introduction from public address announcer Larry Richert.

Porter treated it almost like an introduction from his days as a star pass-rushing outside linebacker for the team from 1999-2006.

“That was cool, him coming out of the tunnel and doing the kick,” Porter’s son, Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., said with a smile. “I told him he doesn’t get his knee up as high as he used to.

“It looked good, though. He was pumped up. He got the crowd into it.”

Players of the week

The Steelers claimed two of the league’s weekly conference player of the week honors. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, and returner Calvin Austin III claimed the special teams honor.

Watt’s strip-sack with less than five minutes to play was one of two times he brought down Daniel Jones and one of seven tackles overall Monday.

Austin had the first punt-return touchdown of his career, a 73-yarder in the third quarter. Austin, who added a receiving touchdown, received a league weekly honor for the first time.

Watt has been defensive player of the week eight times.

Shampklin added to practice squad

Two days after he was dropped from the active roster, running back Aaron Shampklin was re-signed to the practice squad. A Harvard alum, Shampklin was on the initial practice squad when the season began and was promoted to the active roster Oct. 2.

Shampklin played in three regular-season games — the first three of his NFL career — amassing 17 rushing yards on six carries while playing 28 offensive snaps and 13 on special teams.