The Color of Sundays: The Bill Nunn Story
Bill Nunn was a trail blazer, who started in basketball, moved to journalism, and finally became a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a man of many talents who broke barriers and played a major role in the integration of the NFL. He helped build six of the Pittsburgh Steeler Championship teams. He is in the Hall of Fame and is remembered as a Super Scout.
In this Steelers documentary, author of The Color of Sundays, Andrew Conte, along with others who knew the beloved scout, share their thoughts, knowledge, and insight about this legend.
https://www.steelers.com/video/watch-a-steelers-story-super-scout-bill-nunn
About the book on Bill Nunn, The Color of Sundays
The Color of Sundays focuses in on football, Pittsburgh football. Everyone knew the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a new strategy when team owners discovered Bill Nunn Jr. The Rooney family already had endured decades of losing by its football team. The Steelers had made the playoffs just once – and lost. But Nunn knew a secret that could change their fortunes.
Nunn could identify football players no one else could see. He had developed his eye as a pioneering athlete, breaking down barriers for African-Americans in high school and college. Then as a journalist, he had become the first black sports writer allowed to sit in the press box at baseball’s Forbes Field.
The secret revealed itself as Nunn traveled the country each fall to find the best players at the nation’s historically black colleges and universities. Most often the National Football League never noticed these men. Nunn knew they could play – if only given a chance.
About Author Andrew Conte
Andrew Conte serves as founding director of the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh. Previously, he worked as an investigative journalist, and he has authored several nonfiction books, including The Color of Sundays (Blue River Press, 2016).
Since starting the Center in 2016, Andrew has raised more than $8 million for community-engaged approaches to sustaining and growing local news. Most of the work takes place across 10 counties of southwestern Pennsylvania, and it includes projects such as the Pittsburgh Media Partnership with 40+ news outlets, a collocated newsroom in Downtown Pittsburgh, and a local chapter of the national Press Forward movement. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership recognized Andrew in 2024 as a “catalyst for change.”
In addition to running the Center, Andrew has taught in Point Park University’s School of Communication since 2005. The University recognized him with its “distinguished teaching award” in 2024. Andrew also serves as president of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania.
Andrew holds a Ph.D. in Community Engagement from Point Park University, a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College.
In his free time, Andrew enjoys long-distance bicycling trips, kayaking, camping with his wife in their VW bus, international travel, and time with his grown children, who live in Brooklyn.
Headshot photo by Evan Levine