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Steelers extended family pay respects to Chuck Noll; Funeral set for Tuesday

PITTSBURGH — Current and former members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization continue to remember and honor the late, great Chuck Noll.
 
A public viewing was held Sunday and Monday at John A. Freyvogel Sons in Pittsburgh.
 
Noll's family and members of the Steelers' extended family -- including owner Dan Rooney and president and co-owner Art Rooney II -- were joined by friends, ex-players, coaches and fans as they paid their respects.
 
"I think Coach Noll's legacy belongs to football not just to the Steelers.  He was a great person.  He was a man for all seasons," said Dan Rooney.
 
Noll died of natural causes Friday at his home near Pittsburgh. He was 82.  The Hall of Fame coach won a record four Super Bowl titles with the Steelers.
 
"Chuck made us better because he always had us prepared," Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann said. "He was more of a teacher than a coach. ... It was about character and dedication and putting the work in. Chuck required that."
 
"He helped form the man I am today, both athletically and community wise," said former Steeler Louis Lipps.
 
"With all that he had accomplished, there was just a real sense of humility," said former Steeler Tunch Ilkin.
 
"His mantra was, 'Success lies in the details,'" said former Steeler Andy Russell. "A lot of that not only focused on football itself, but after we left football, that helped us in our businesses. He was a fantastic mentor."

“That’s why the bar is set so high in Pittsburgh.  He is the guy that set it, and everyone else has to try to get to it,” said announcer Bill Hillgrove.

Channel 11 saw other former Steelers, including "Mean" Joe Green, Mel Blount and Franco Harris, paying their respects.
 
Former Pirates coach Jim Leyland remembers Noll as a man who always had a plan.
 
"I liked his teaching aspect, and I liked the way he just grinded it out," said Leyland.
 
Current Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also commented on Noll's passing.
 
"He's the greatest coach of all time.  Look at what he did and what he has done the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.  I think I saw a quote from Mr. Rooney saying he made the Steelers who they are, and you know, maybe to the outside world he's not as credited as he should be, but people who know football know how special he was," said Rothlisberger.
 
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.

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