Bill Nunn (American football) facts for kids

William Goldwyn Nunn Jr. (born September 30, 1924 – died May 6, 2014) was an important American sports figure. He was a sportswriter and newspaper editor. Later, he became a talented scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. In 2021, he was honored by being added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many people knew him as Bill Nunn Sr. because his son, William G. Nunn III, became a famous actor.

Bill Nunn's Early Life

Bill Nunn grew up in the Homewood area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, William G. Nunn Sr., was in charge of the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper. This newspaper was one of the most important black publications in the entire country.

College and Basketball

Nunn went to West Virginia State College. He was a fantastic basketball player there. In his final year, his team won all 26 of their games! His high school and college friend, Chuck Cooper, made history. He became the first black player ever picked in the NBA draft. Another teammate, Earl Lloyd, was the first black person to play in an NBA game.

The famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team wanted Nunn to join them. But he decided to go back home to Pittsburgh. He chose to work at the Pittsburgh Courier instead.

Bill Nunn's Career in Journalism

Nunn started his career as a sportswriter at the Pittsburgh Courier. He wrote many articles about sports. Over time, he moved up in the newspaper.

He became the sports editor, which meant he was in charge of all the sports news. In the mid-1960s, after his father retired, Bill Nunn became the managing editor. This meant he was in charge of the entire newspaper.

Bill Nunn's Scouting Work

As a sportswriter for a black newspaper, Nunn learned a lot about football teams. He especially knew about teams at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). These are colleges that were first set up to educate black students.

Finding Hidden Talent

Starting in 1950, the Courier newspaper picked a "Black College All-America" team. This team featured the best players from HBCUs. The NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers noticed Nunn's great knowledge. Players from HBCUs were often not noticed by the NFL back then.

In 1967, the Steelers offered Nunn a part-time job. He became a scout for the team. A scout's job is to find talented players. Two years later, in 1969, his scouting job became full-time. This happened when Chuck Noll became the Steelers' new coach.

Steelers' Success

Nunn is famous for finding amazing players from HBCUs. These players helped the Steelers win four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s. Some of these key players were Mel Blount, John Stallworth, Donnie Shell, and Sam Davis.

There's a famous story about how Nunn found John Stallworth. Many NFL scouts watched Stallworth run a fast sprint called the 40-yard dash. But the track was wet, so he didn't run his best time. Most scouts left, but Nunn was the only one who stayed an extra day. He watched Stallworth run again on a dry track, and Stallworth ran much faster. Nunn also had the only video of Stallworth playing in college. It's said that he kept this video a secret from other NFL teams!

Hall of Fame Recognition

Bill Nunn passed away on May 6, 2014. In 2021, after his death, he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor for people who have made a big difference in football. He was the first African American to be chosen in the "Contributor" category. As a Steelers scout, he helped draft 13 players who also later made it into the Hall of Fame.

Bill Nunn's Family

Bill Nunn lived in Pittsburgh with his wife, Frances. Their son, Bill, became an actor. He was well-known for playing the character Radio Raheem in the movie Do The Right Thing. Because his son was famous, the elder Bill Nunn often called himself Bill Nunn Sr. Their daughter, Lynell Wilson, also had an important career as a U.S. Attorney.

The Bill Nunn Award

The Pro Football Hall of Fame created an award in Bill Nunn's honor. It is called the Bill Nunn Memorial Award. This award is given every year to a sports writer. It recognizes someone who has reported on professional football for a long time and done a great job. The award started in 1969, but it was renamed in 2021 to remember Bill Nunn.