The Steel Curtain was the name given to the defensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team during their glory days in the 1970s. Composed of L. C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, "Mean" Joe Greene, and Dwight White, the four members of the Steel Curtain routinely dominated the opposition, crushing opposing running backs and sacking quarterbacks. Although the Steelers defensive unit as a whole was one of the greatest of all time, it was the Steel Curtain that was the focus of public attention. Joe Greene, the leader of the Steel Curtain and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, was also a media celebrity in his own right. Greene appeared in one of the most famous soft-drink advertisements in television history. The advertisement featured Greene trading his football jersey to a small child in exchange for a bottle of Coca-Cola.

Further Reading:

Bouchette, E. The Pittsburgh Steelers. New York, St. Martin's Press, 1994.

Livingston, P. The Pittsburgh Steelers: A Pictorial History. Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jordan & Co. Publishers, 1980.