It was not so long ago that "Mean" Joe Greene was thinking how fortunate they were. For better than 10 years, he, Dwight White, Ernie Holmes and L.C. Greenwood would occasionally get together again to do autograph shows. They were the "Steel Curtain," the formidable defensive line that led the Steelers to victories in four Super Bowls in January 1975, '76, '79 and '80. Greene had been especially close to White, who had been his roommate and in June had died of complications following back surgery. He was only 58, another Steeler from the glory days who had passed away too soon.
Greene spoke at the funeral at Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh. As the graying former defensive tackle looked out upon the crowded pews, which included dozens of ex-Steelers and Gov. Ed Rendell, it occurred to him that suddenly there were now just two of them left from the old Steel Curtain. "Fats" Holmes (59) had succumbed to injuries he suffered during a car accident in January. Though Greene was at an age when the death of old friends seems to be a yearly occurrence, the loss of "Fats" and then Dwight had happened so quickly that it left him reeling in grief.
"You always knew when Dwight was in the room," says Greene. "Franco [Harris] held a dinner for 25 of us the evening before the funeral, and showed a highlight reel of Dwight. And we told some jokes. It was upbeat because Dwight was always upbeat."
Greene pauses and adds, "It saddens me a great deal. But what can you say? This is life."
Seventeen former Steelers have died since 2000 before the age of 59. This is a statistical anomaly that no one is sure what to ascribe to other than sheer coincidence. There has been no pattern that would lend a clue to why the Steelers have been so beset. Some have had heart conditions. Others have been the victims of accidents. One committed suicide. Nine were in their 50s. Five were in their 40s. And three were in their 30s. "I think this has just been a quirk of fate," says Joe Gordon, a Steelers executive from 1969 to '98. "I have never heard an explanation for it. This is just something that has focused on this particular group of people."
Here is how they died:
Heart conditions claimed eight of them. In the case of quarterback Joe Gilliam (49) and center Mike Webster (50), there were contributing factors that were compelling. Gilliam had a history of cocaine and heroin abuse and Webster had sustained brain damage from butting heads in the trenches. Both endured periods of homelessness before they died. Guard Jim Clack (58) died of a heart attack after a four-year battle with cancer. Defensive tackle Steve Furness (49), guard Tyrone McGriff (42) and cornerbacks Dave Brown (52) and Ray Oldham (54) also succumbed to heart seizures. Heart arrhythmia contributed to the death of linebacker David Little (46), who was pinned beneath a barbell and suffocated.
Other illnesses claimed another four. In addition to White -- who developed a blood clot that settled in his lungs after back surgery -- two others died of cancer: wide receiver Ron Shanklin (55) and tackle James Parrish (35). Wide receiver Theo Bell (52) died of kidney disease and scleroderma.
