There may be no NFL team more closely associated with the family that owns it than the Pittsburgh Steelers are with the Rooney family.  Art Rooney founded the franchise in 1933, and he and his sons have run the team ever since.

But after 75 years, that could be coming to an end.

John R. Wilke of the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Dan Rooney confirmed today that the franchise has been secretly shopped to potential buyers.

But Dan Rooney also released a statement saying, “I have spent my entire life devoted to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football League.  I will do everything possible to work out a solution to ensure my father’s legacy of keeping the Steelers in the Rooney family and in Pittsburgh for at least another 75 years.”

According to Wilke, the effort to keep the Steelers in the Rooney family and in Pittsburgh has involved Dan Rooney and his son, Art Rooney II, arranging a financing plan to buy Dan’s brothers’ shares.

Some younger members of the family, however, have asked whether they might get a better deal by selling to someone outside the family.  It seems unthinkable that someone not named Rooney could own the Steelers.  Then again, it once seemed unthinkable that someone not named Brown could own the Browns.

(Update: As multiple readers have now reminded me, it was never unthinkable that someone not named Brown could own the Browns.  Please disregard the last sentence.)