Rooney and Kate Mara are famous actresses. In real life, they are sisters. On screen, they’ve earned big praise. Both have received Emmy and Oscar nominations. Kate Mara was born in 1983. She started acting first. Rooney is her younger sister. She followed Kate into show business. At first, Rooney had small roles in Kate’s projects. Later, she got her own big breaks. Rooney became well-known for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Carol.
Kate made her mark in House of Cards, 127 Hours, and Fantastic Four. But acting isn’t their only legacy. Their family has deep ties to the NFL. The Mara sisters are heirs to two football teams—the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their family has been part of football for nearly 100 years. The Giants and Steelers were both shaped by their relatives. Even today, the Mara name is linked to both teams.
How the Mara Family Entered the NFL
The Mara family’s NFL story began with Tim Mara. He was born in 1887. His family was poor and lived on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. At just 13 years old, Tim left school to start working. He later found success as a bookmaker. In 1925, the NFL was small and struggling. League president Joseph Carry needed someone to help. He wanted to start a team in New York. A friend introduced him to Tim Mara. Tim took the chance. He bought the team for only $500. Today, that would be about $12,500.
The New York Giants had a rough beginning. In the first few years, Tim Mara lost $40,000. Things didn’t look good. Then, he made a smart move. He set up a game against college football star Red Grange. The game was a huge success. Crowds packed the stadium. Ticket sales brought in $143,000. That one game changed everything. After that, the Giants took off. They became one of the NFL’s top teams. They even helped shut down rival leagues like the American Football League.
During the Great Depression, the Giants raised over $150,000 for charity. They stayed strong while other teams folded. Tim Mara died in 1959. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. His sons, Wellington and Jack, took over. Later, their kids joined the team. Today, Kate and Rooney Mara’s dad works for the Giants. He’s a top scout. Their uncle, John Mara, runs the team as President and co-owner.
The Rooney Side of the Family
On their mom’s side, Kate and Rooney Mara are Rooney. They are part of the family that started the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Art Rooney Sr. was born in 1901 near Pittsburgh. He was a great athlete. He played baseball, boxed, and played semi-pro football. In 1933, he won $2,500 from a horse race. He used that money to buy a pro football team. The team was first called the Pittsburgh Pirates, just like the baseball team. In 1941,
they changed the name to the Steelers. The Steelers didn’t win much at first. But after the NFL and AFL merged in 1970, things changed. With coach Chuck Noll and the “Steel Curtain” defense, they became a powerhouse. From 1975 to 1980, they won four Super Bowls.
Art Rooney Sr. later passed the Steelers to his son, Dan Rooney. Dan became the team’s owner and chairman. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland under President Obama. Today, Dan’s son, Art Rooney II, is the team’s President. Other family members still help run the team as board members. Kate and Rooney Mara’s mom is Kathleen McNulty Rooney. She is one of Art Sr.’s grandchildren. She married Timothy Christopher Mara from the Giants family.
The Family Tree
Tim Mara started the New York Giants in 1925. He is Kate and Rooney Mara’s great-grandfather on their dad’s side. His son, Wellington Mara, helped lead the team for many years. He was a well-known owner and team leader. Wellington’s son is Timothy Christopher Mara. He is Kate and Rooney’s father. Today, he works as the Giants’ Vice President of Player Evaluation. His brother, John Mara, is also part of the team. He is the President, CEO, and co-owner of the Giants.
