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Steel Curtain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Blitzburgh. (Discuss) |
The Steel Curtain was the nickname that was originally given to the front four of the famous defensive line of the American football team the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s. Over the years, the nickname evolved into a reference to the entire defensive squad. This defense was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won 4 Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV).
In the 1976 season alone, the Steelers' defense was dominant, perhaps the best defense of all time. After the Steelers started 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, the Steelers defense took over, holding their opponents to just two touchdowns over the next nine games, and shutting them out five times, including three consecutive. Eight of the Steelers starting eleven defensive players were selected for the Pro Bowl, and middle linebacker Jack Lambert was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Other Steelers to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year are:
- 1972 - DT Joe Greene
- 1974 - DT Joe Greene
- 1975 - CB Mel Blount
- 1976 - LB Jack Lambert
- 1993 - CB Rod Woodson
The nickname "Steel Curtain", a play on the phrase "Iron Curtain" popularized by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, originated in a 1971 contest sponsored by Pittsburgh radio station WTAE to name the defense. The contest was won by Gregory Kronz, then a ninth grader at a suburban high school. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "he was just one of 17 people who submitted the 'Steel Curtain' moniker to the WTAE contest, necessitating a drawing for the grand prize," which Kronz won.
The Steel Curtain's famed front four were:
- #75 "Mean" Joe Greene - defensive tackle, 1969-1981 (1969 Defensive Rookie of the Year; 1972 & 1974 Defensive Player of the Year; NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; Hall of Fame)
- #68 L.C. Greenwood - defensive end, 1969-1981 (NFL 1970s All-Decade Team)
- #63 Ernie Holmes - defensive tackle, 1972-1977
- #78 Dwight White - defensive end, 1971-1980
Other Greats in this defense were:
- #34 Andy Russell - Outside Linebacker, 1963, 1966-1976
- #58 Jack Lambert - Middle Linebacker, 1974-1985 (1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year; 1976 Defensive Player of the Year; NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; Hall of Fame)
- #59 Jack Ham - Outside Linebacker, 1971-1982 (NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; Hall of Fame)
- #47 Mel Blount - cornerback, 1970-1983 (1975 Defensive Player of the Year; Hall of Fame)
- #24 J.T. Thomas - cornerback, 1973-1977, 1979-1981
- #27 Glen Edwards - free safety, 1971-1977
- #31 Donnie Shell - strong safety, 1974-1987 (Five time All-Pro)
- #23 Mike Wagner - Defensive back, 1971-1980.
Later Steelers players who continued the Steelers defensive legacy are:
- 1980s
-
- LB David Little (Pro Bowler)
- LB Mike Merriweather (Pro Bowler)
- LB Bryan Hinkle
- DB Dwayne Woodruff
- 1990s
-
- LB Greg Lloyd (Pro Bowler)
- LB Levon Kirkland (Pro Bowler)
- LB Hardy Nickerson (Pro Bowler but with Buccaneers)
- LB Chad Brown (Pro Bowler)
- LB Kevin Greene (Pro Bowler)
- DB Rod Woodson (Pro Bowler, 1993 Defensive Player of the Year)
- DB Carnell Lake (Pro Bowler)
- NT Joel Steed (Pro Bowler)
- 2000s
-
- LB Joey Porter (Pro Bowler)
- LB Jason Gildon (Pro Bowler)
- LB James Farrior (Pro Bowler)
- LB Kendrell Bell (Pro Bowler, 2001 Defensive Rookie of the Year)
- DB Troy Polamalu (Pro Bowler)
- NT Casey Hampton (Pro Bowler)
- DE Aaron Smith (Pro Bowler)
- Ruth Ann Dailey (2006). Rev. Kronz and the Steel Curtain. Retrieved January 30, 2006.