One of the "Super Steelers" of the 1970's left us this week when safety Mike Wagner died at the age of 76. Wagner was a safety on those four Super Bowl championship teams of the 1970's. In a ten year career wherein he started all but three regular season games (116 of 119) and 14 post season games, Wagner was an integral part of the famed "Steel Curtain Defense" that dominated the decade of the 1970's. He had 36 interceptions in his career and five post-season interceptions, including two more in Super Bowls against quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Roger Staubach. Teammate Andy Russell said that he was probably the Steelers best safety ever.
He retired after the 1980 season, obtained his MBA from Pitt, and had a thirty-plus year career in the investment banking business. He never left Pittsburgh, and was active in Steelers Alumni events and was always at team reunions. He was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in 2021.
Steelers fans often refer to the "Super Steelers of the Seventies", and the definition of "Super Steelers" can pretty much be whatever you want it to be. My own definition is that a "Super Steeler" is a player who earned four Super Bowl rings during that incredible six season span (1974-1979) where the team won four Super Bowls. There were twenty-two of those guys, and seven of them, plus Head Coach Chuck Noll, are no longer with us. I have included a list of those Super Steelers at the bottom of this post.
When one of those guys leaves us, it is worth noting.
RIP Mike Wagner.
“SUPER STEELERS” | |
Rocky Bleier | |
Mel Blount | |
Terry Bradshaw | |
Larry Brown | |
Sam Davis | |
Steve Furness | |
Joe Greene | |
L.C. Greenwood | |
Randy Grossman | |
Franco Harris | |
Jon Kolb | |
Jack Lambert | |
Gerry Mullins | |
Chuck Noll (HC) | |
Donnie Shell | |
John Stallworth | |
Lynn Swann | |
James Thomas | |
Loren Toews | |
Mike Wagner | |
Mike Webster | |
Dwight White | |
Hall of Fame |
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