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Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Mike Wagner, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the franchise during the Steel Curtain dynasty, has died at age 76.
The Steelers announced Wagner’s death Wednesday evening in a statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mike Wagner, a tremendous player who was an integral part of some of the most successful teams in Pittsburgh Steelers history,” Steelers owner Art Rooney II said in a statement.
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Safety Mike Wagner of the Pittsburgh Steelers watches from the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium circa 1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (George Gojkovitch/Getty Images)
No cause of death was provided.
Wagner was a two-time Pro Bowler during his 10-year career for the Steelers, accumulating 36 interceptions and five forced fumbles from 1971 to 1980.
The Steelers took him 268th overall in the 1971 NFL Draft, which was then the 11th round.
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“Mike played a key role on our championship teams of the 1970s. As a member of four Super Bowl winning teams, his tenacity and consistency were paramount to our secondary. His contributions on the field were significant, but it was also his steady presence and team mentality that truly defined him,” Rooney’s statement continued.
“On behalf of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Mike’s family. He will always be remembered as a champion, a great teammate and a proud member of the Steelers family.”
Wagner’s football journey is unique before the NFL draft.
Safety Mike Wagner of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns to the sidelines holding the ball after intercepting a pass against the Oakland Raiders during the 1975 season AFC Championship playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium on January 4, 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (George Gojkovitch/Getty Images)
He went to Western Illinois University, but he didn’t play for the football team until he asked the head coach for a tryout after finding no interest in competing at another school.
The Western Illinois coach agreed and Wagner made the team. However, he still waited tables to earn money while playing for the team.
The Steelers would eventually take a shot at him, but the late-round pick wasn’t an afterthought in his rookie season.
Wagner started at safety following an injury on the depth chart, and he didn’t relinquish his starting position from there.
He started 116 of his 119 career games, and in 1973 he led the league with eight interceptions.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mike Wagner watches from the sideline during a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (George Gojkovitch/Getty Images)
Those career interceptions include the game-sealing one against the Minnesota Vikings, picking off the great Fran Tarkenton to give the Steelers the victory in Super Bowl IX – the franchise’s first.
In 2020, the Steelers inducted Wagner into their Hall of Honor and continued to be a part of the organization until his death.
