Andrew Conte

The Color of Sundays Andrew Conte

Bill Nunn Jr. was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. When William "Bill" Nunn Jr. first started scouting for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1967 he was already a highly respected and experienced journalist for the Pittsburgh Courier. When he was first brought on by the Steelers the Rooney family already had endured decades of losing. But Nunn knew a secret that could change their fortunes. Nunn could identify football players no one else could see. He had developed his eye as a pioneering athlete, breaking down barriers for African-Americans in high school and college. Then as a journalist, he had become the first black sports writer allowed to sit in the press box at baseball's Forbes Field.

The secret revealed itself as Nunn traveled the country each fall to find the best players at the nation's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Most often the National Football League never noticed these men. Nunn knew they could play if only given a chance. As a Steelers' scout Nunn was instrumental in signing "Mean" Joe Greene, L. C. Greenwood, and John Stallworth to name just a few.