He wasn’t always a Steelers fan. His first Steelers article came from Barcelona, Spain, where he was covering a preseason game against a stacked 49ers team that still featured Jerry Rice and would go on to win the Super Bowl that season. The Steelers, meanwhile, were building the core that would fuel their 1994 and 1995 playoff runs. A Detroit Lions fan at the time, he eventually shifted his full professional focus to Pittsburgh, dedicating his entire career to covering the Steelers. From launching Steelers Nation Radio to co-hosting the SNR Drive, he’s served as a journalist, writer, host, and multimedia presence, consistently delivering Steelers coverage to the fanbase.
Dale Lolley, who chronicled the Pittsburgh Steelers for decades as a dedicated journalist and became an integral part of the franchise’s media landscape, passed away on September 17. Lolley passed away at 56 after a battle with cancer, leaving Steelers Nation and the city of Pittsburgh in mourning. Mike Tomlin recalled his legacy. The nation grieves not just a journalist, but a voice that brought black and gold to the fore.
The Steelers acknowledged his passing in a heartfelt post on X: “We mourn the loss of Dale Lolley.” This simple yet poignant message highlighted how integral Lolley was to the team’s story.
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For the Steelers, it wasn’t just a statement; it was a recognition of decades spent connecting the franchise with its passionate fanbase.
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“I always watched football and was a fan of a lot of sports,” Lolley said. “But I was a little different—I liked the Oakland A’s, the Detroit Pistons, and the Lions because I was a big Billy Sims fan as a kid. I watched the Steelers because they were on, but it wasn’t my passion.” Not growing up a diehard Steelers fan, Lolley said, likely helped him maintain objectivity in his coverage. Still, he acknowledged that the line between neutrality and connection is always a tricky one to manage.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed the deep personal connection he shared with Lolley, emphasizing the reporter’s integral role in the organization’s community. “I’ve been in Pittsburgh since 2007, and Dale was part of the fabric of this thing. Just a quality guy. He’s going to be missed,” Tomlin said, highlighting how Lolley had become woven into the franchise’s identity over nearly two decades of coverage.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be a sportswriter,” Lolley said. “They hired me as a general assignment reporter, and I kept pushing the managing editor to let me cover sports. I’d go in around noon and wouldn’t finish until 1 a.m. I wasn’t getting paid for all those hours, but I wanted to do it.” That drive and passion paid off. “Ted Marchibroda from Franklin was coaching the Colts at the time,” Lolley recalled. “I still had an apartment in Pittsburgh because my girlfriend, now my wife, was at Pitt. I told sports editor Penny Weichel I’d be in town that weekend and asked if I could cover the game. Penny said, ‘Yeah, go ahead and do it.’” That game became the first Steelers assignment of his career. A career that would span over 30 years, covering the team.
His work caught attention and led to a position at The Observer-Reporter in Washington, Pennsylvania. From there, he was hired as the Steelers reporter for DK Pittsburgh Sports. Lolley became a regular contributor to Steelers Digest, the team’s official publication, from its 1988 inception and started filling in for Steelers Radio Network shows beginning in 2008.
In 2014, Lolley joined Steelers Nation Radio, a new digital radio venture by the team. He partnered with Matt Williamson to create “SNR Drive with Dale & Matt,” a five-days-a-week podcast that became highly popular among fans. The show’s combination of informative content and engaging discussion made it a cornerstone of the Steelers’ digital media presence, showcasing Lolley’s ability to connect with audiences across different platforms.
Reflecting on his work in 2022, Lolley said: “I’ve spent more than half of my life covering the team. If I’m not writing about them, I’m talking about them. It’s what I do. There have been hundreds of wins and losses, plenty of AFC Championship games, Super Bowl wins and losses along the way. And thousands of stories. At the end of the day, it’s always about the stories.”
The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, his alma mater, said, “Dale Lolley was a highly talented and passionately enthusiastic chronicler of thousands of stories enjoyed by Steelers Nation for over three decades. UPJ expresses its deepest condolences to his wife, Amy, and their three children, as well as to all friends and Steelers fans who have been informed and entertained by this consummate master storyteller.”
Additionally, former colleagues at the Observer-Reporter remembered his calm under pressure, particularly during major events like the Super Bowl in 1996. One said, “His reliability was as certain as the sun rising each morning.” Fans also shared their memories online.
Dale Lolley’s impact extended far beyond journalism.
Dale Lolley’s legacy beyond football
Outside of football, Lolley was deeply involved in youth baseball, serving as a board member and coach for the Washington County Founders PONY League. He also had a passion for music—often quoting George Harrison or singing along to Pearl Jam with the same energy he brought to his reporting. Known for his generosity, curiosity, and commitment, Lolley left a lasting impact on every community he was part of.
Above all, Dale Lolley was a husband and father. He is survived by his wife Amy and their children Noah, Tanner, and Madeline. His son Noah explained: “Dad wanted to keep it in Washington and wanted the (host) team to have a chance to win. That was important to him, to give kids opportunities they didn’t always have.”
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Even amid the demands of a high-profile career, he remained a constant presence for his family, sharing his love of storytelling, sports, and life itself. Reflecting on his career as he left DK Pittsburgh Sports, Lolley wrote: “It’s been a great run here, one I’ll always recall fondly. All apologies to George Harrison: ‘All things must pass. None of life’s strings can last. So, I must be on my way. And face another day.’”
Steelers Nation will navigate the season without his guiding voice, but his influence endures. He made fans feel part of every game, nurtured youth sports, and left a lasting mark on Pittsburgh. Dale Lolley showed that covering a team isn’t just about scores, it’s about connecting a city, telling stories that matter, and creating memories that last a lifetime.