Dwight White
The 'Mad Dog' defensive end who delivered the first safety in Super Bowl history.
Dwight Lynn White (July 30, 1949 – June 6, 2008) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Texas State Lions (now East Texas A&M). He won four Super Bowls with the Steelers as a member of their famed Steel Curtain defense. Nicknamed "Mad Dog" because of his intensity, White became a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end. Steelers owner Dan Rooney called White "one of the greatest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform" and he was named to the Steelers All-Time team in 1982 and again in 2007.
- Role
- Defensive End
- Team
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Super Bowl Championships
- 4 (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- Pro Bowl Selections
- 2
- Career Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Dwight White spent much of the week leading up to Super Bowl IX in a hospital, suffering from pneumonia. He lost 20 pounds and was not expected to play in the game. However, he did play, and accounted for the only scoring in the first half when he sacked Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety — the first points in Steelers' history in a championship game, and also the first safety in Super Bowl history. The Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16–6. White finished his career with 46 quarterback sacks as recorded unofficially by the Steelers; sacks were not an official NFL defensive stat until 1982. He retired after the 1980 season and went on to become a stock broker.
In Their Own Story
Born in Hampton, Virginia, White graduated from James Madison High School in Dallas, Texas and played college football at East Texas State University (now East Texas A&M University) where he was teammates with future Super Bowl MVP Harvey Martin. Drafted by the Steelers, he became a cornerstone of the Steel Curtain. His defining moment came in Super Bowl IX, when he emerged from a hospital bed, having lost 20 pounds due to pneumonia, to sack Fran Tarkenton for a safety. That play stood as the only scoring of the first half and marked the first safety in Super Bowl history. It was also the first points ever scored by the Steelers in a championship game.
Reader's Guide
Dwight White played defensive end for 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. His most famous performance came in Super Bowl IX, where he played despite being hospitalized with pneumonia and losing 20 pounds. He recorded the first safety in Super Bowl history by sacking Fran Tarkenton in the end zone. White's 46 career sacks were recorded unofficially by the Steelers, as sacks did not become an official NFL stat until 1982. After retiring following the 1980 season, he became a stock broker. White died on June 6, 2008, from complications that arose from an earlier surgery. A blood clot in his lung, the complication from back surgery, is the suspected cause of death.
Did You Know?
- Dwight White was nicknamed 'Mad Dog' because of his intensity.
- He was teammates in college with future Super Bowl MVP Harvey Martin at East Texas State University.
- White lost 20 pounds due to pneumonia in the week leading up to Super Bowl IX but still played.
- He scored the first safety in Super Bowl history by sacking Fran Tarkenton in Super Bowl IX.
- Sacks were not an official NFL defensive stat until 1982, so White's 46 sacks were recorded unofficially by the Steelers.
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