If you are a football fan, you will be saddened to hear that former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Dwight “Mad Dog” White died yesterday at the age of 58. It is believed he died due to complications from a back surgery.
White helped the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s as part of the four man Steel Curtain. The Steel Curtain was the nickname given to the Steelers defensive line of “Mean” Joe Green, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and White during its 70s dynasty. It was this defensive line that helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl in 1974 (beating the Minnesota Vikings), 1975 (beating the Dallas Cowboys), 1978 (beating the Dallas Cowboys), 1979 (beating the Los Angeles Rams).
White was also a two time Pro Bowl player who was also chosen to represent the Steelers on the 75th anniversary all-time team last year. He was chosen by the AP as a first team All-AFC player in 1973. He achieved near super human status when he climbed out of a hospital bed, 18 pounds lighter after suffering a bout with pneumonia and a lung infection, to play in Super Bowl IX. White made three tackles for no yards and sacked Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety, which accounted for the only points scored in the first half. White retired from football in 1980, and then became a successful stockbroker in Pittsburgh.
White’s death is the second this year of what seems to be a Pittsburgh Steelers curse. Earlier this year, fellow Steel Curtain member Ernie Holmes died in a car accident in Texas. Holmes was 59 years old. There have been 38 former Steelers players die since 2000, with almost half of them being age 59 or younger. A Los Angeles Times survey in 2006 stated that one-fifth of the former National Football League players from the 70s and 80s that died were from former Steelers.