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NFL·June 22, 2026 09:42 AM ET

Mike Wagner and the Steel Curtain: Still the NFL's Defensive Gold Standard?

On Mike Wagner's birthday, the case for Pittsburgh's 1970s defense as the best the league has ever seen.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 221 min read
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What happened: The Steelers shared a tribute remembering safety Mike Wagner on his birthday. Wagner was a key piece of the Steel Curtain secondary that anchored Pittsburgh's dynasty through the 1970s. The unit is regularly invoked whenever the all-time great defenses are debated.

Why it matters: That Pittsburgh defense backed four championships across the decade, pairing a dominant front seven with a ball-hawking secondary that Wagner helped lead. Modern defenses have had standout single seasons, but few can match a group that stayed elite long enough to anchor a dynasty.

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