Bill Nunn, the legendary Steelers scout, officially became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being enshrined, along with eight others, posthumously during a special ceremony, “Hall of Famer Forever,” in Canton, Ohio, in April. While Nunn was months before the rest of the Class of 2021, he still was recognized during the Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 8.

“It’s still a little bit surreal for Bill to get recognized like this,” said General Manager Kevin Colbert. “Bill meant everything to the Steelers organization. It’s been documented, the players he was instrumental in bringing to the Steelers and the success they had. We as young scouts were fortunate to be around Bill and try to learn things they implemented when they put those teams together. There were a lot of lessons being taught to us.

Nunn, who worked in multiple roles in the Steelers personnel department beginning in 1967 in a part-time role, and then in a full-time role from 1969-2014, was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Contributor as part of the Class of 2021, the first Black Contributor in the 100 plus year history of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Nunn’s granddaughter, Cydney Nunn, did the honors of unveiling her grandfather’s Hall of Fame bust. She also assisted in placing his bust in the Hall of Fame Gallery and was given a Hall of Fame plaque, which included a swatch of the Gold Jacket that is presented to Hall of Famers.

“I know my grandfather probably didn’t think he was going to be in the Hall of Fame,” said Nunn. “That wasn’t necessarily a goal of his. This has been a huge, memorable, historic time for our family. We are happy we are able to be here to represent his legacy.

“It’s incredible he is the first black contributor to be in the Hall of Fame. He made such a huge impact on this sport as we know it, the way he scouted players and how he opened doors for so many black athletes. Also, walking through the museum, seeing him in the Black College Football Hall of Fame, he is so great he is in there twice.”

Nunn was a trailblazer who opened the door for so many to have careers in the NFL, in particular those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.