Bill Nunn (American football)

Nunn was born and raised in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the son of William G. Nunn Sr., who was the managing editor of the Pittsburgh Courier. The Courier was among the most influential black publications in the nation.[5][6]

The younger Nunn attended college at West Virginia State where he was a stand-out basketball player on a team which went 26–0 in his senior season.[7] His high school and college teammate, Chuck Cooper would become the first black player drafted by the NBA. Another college teammate, Earl Lloyd, was the first black to play in an NBA game.[1]

Nunn was recruited by the Harlem Globetrotters, but chose instead to return home to Pittsburgh to work at the Courier.[7]

Nunn started as a sportswriter at the Courier, and eventually moved up to become the sports editor and then managing editor in the mid-1960s after his father's retirement.[5]

As a sportswriter for a black publication, Nunn developed deep knowledge of football programs at historically black colleges and universities. The Courier named a "Black College All-America" team starting in 1950.[8] The NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers noted Nunn's coverage of these players who were traditionally under-represented in the league and in 1967 Nunn accepted a part-time position on team's scouting staff. The sideline became a full-time position two years later when Chuck Noll became the team's coach.[5]

Nunn lived with his wife, Frances, in the Schenley Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh.[9] Their son Bill was an actor; he played Radio Raheem in Do The Right Thing. Because of his son's fame, the elder Nunn referred to himself as Bill Nunn Sr.[5] Their daughter, Lynell Wilson, is a former U.S. Attorney.[5]

Nunn died on May 6, 2014 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, two weeks after suffering a stroke.[10] Burial was at Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh.[11] Nunn is survived by his wife Frances, his daughter Lynell, his three grandchildren Jessica Nunn, Matthew Wilson and Cydney Nunn, and one great grandchild.

Nunn was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021.