The Steel Curtain Defense
The nickname was used for their four down linemen joe greene dwight white ernie holmes and l c.
The steel curtain defense. Joe greene in 1987. The steel curtain buckled down in an unprecedented show of defensive prowess. Anchored by four hall of fame players and multiple other perennial pro bowl players pittsburgh s. The steel curtain defense is regarded as arguably the greatest defensive unit in nfl history.
The backbone of these defenses were the defensive line of mean joe greene l c. With carson s arrival in 1972 to the end of pittsburgh s super bowl run in 1979 the steel curtain ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense all but one year. Signatures of steel curtain members on a seat from three rivers stadium the steel curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s american football team pittsburgh steelers of the national football league nfl. By anthony defeo may 20.
That steelers defense gave up just 28 points over their last 9 games and set an nfl record which i believe will never be broken with 5 shutouts in a single season. It s doubtful another defense will ever be able to dominate in that fashion again. Greenwood ernie holmes and dwight white the nickname steel curtain was a play on the phrase iron curtain made popular by winston churchill in regards to the soviet. Other members of the pittsburgh defense of the steel curtain days that are in the hall of fame include jack ham 1988 mel blount 1989 and jack lambert 1990.
George perles and bud carson devised a stunting 4 3 defense that confused offenses all season long. They recorded 5 shutouts in the remaining 9 games and in 8 of those games didn t allow a single touchdown. The steel curtain refers to the pittsburgh steelers defenses from the 1970s responsible for winning four super bowls in six years. During the steel curtain days for the pittsburgh steelers the team ran a 4 3 defense.
Earning the appropriate and deserved nickname of the steel curtain the steelers defense was arguably the best of all time.