The Pittsburgh Steelers are mourning the loss of one of the toughest and smartest defenders in franchise history.
Mike Wagner — the hard-hitting safety who helped power the legendary “Steel Curtain” defense to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s — has died at 76 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in the summer of 2020.
An 11th-round draft pick out of Western Illinois in 1971, Wagner wasn’t supposed to become a cornerstone. But he did just that.
He started 116 of 119 regular-season games and 14 postseason contests over 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, quietly becoming one of the most reliable pieces of a dynasty.
“I think Mike was the best safety the Steelers ever had,” former linebacker Andy Russell once said.
That’s no small praise — especially in a franchise packed with defensive legends.
Wagner racked up 36 career interceptions, sixth-most in team history, along with 12 forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. But it was his postseason heroics that sealed his legacy.
He snagged five playoff interceptions — including two in the Super Bowl. In back-to-back championship seasons, he picked off Hall of Fame quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Roger Staubach.
His interception of Staubach in Super Bowl X became one of the defining moments of his career.
“Probably the reason why I liked that play so much is because it stuck in Staubach’s craw for over a decade,” Wagner once said. “He was really flustered by that.”
That edge — equal parts confidence and calculation — defined his game.
Wagner’s football IQ made him indispensable. He was named first-team All-Pro in 1973 after tying for the league lead with eight interceptions. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 1974 and 1975.
Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham said Wagner wasn’t afraid to challenge defensive coordinator Bud Carson.
“Our defense got to be pretty complicated, and Mike knew what everyone was doing,” Ham said. “He would challenge him.”
Though he often played in the shadow of stars like Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount and Donnie Shell, Wagner’s tenacity and leadership were critical to the Steelers’ dominance.
In 2021, he was inducted into the Steelers’ Hall of Honor, finally receiving formal recognition alongside some of the greatest players in NFL history.
“To join those guys, it’s really a treat. It’s really a thrill,” Wagner said at the time. “And I’m proud to have earned it.”
Wagner retired after the 1980 season, despite team owner Art Rooney Sr. urging him to return for one more year. Neck and hip injuries had taken their toll.
He told Rooney he didn’t want to embarrass himself — or the team.
The next day, he was called back to the office and handed a contract.
“Mr. Rooney, I told you I can’t play anymore,” Wagner said.
“Just sign it,” Rooney replied.
It was a one-day contract — a gesture of respect — along with an extra retirement payment. Wagner never forgot it.
After football, he earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business and spent three decades in investment banking. He later served on multiple nonprofit boards, building a second career defined by the same discipline and intelligence he brought to the field.
“I’ve always had curiosity and dedication,” Wagner said in 2021. “And those traits gave me the opportunity to achieve my goals.”
The Steel Curtain is remembered for its fearsome names and bone-crushing hits. But insiders knew Wagner was the steady hand in the backfield — the thinker, the anticipator, the closer.
He may not have always grabbed the headlines.
But inside Pittsburgh, many believed he was the best to ever do it at his position.
And now, the city he helped turn into “Championship Town” is saying goodbye.
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