Mike Webster

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Webster was born in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, on March 18, 1952, the second of six children. He grew up on a 640-acre potato farm near Harshaw, Wisconsin. As a child, he was a devoted Green Bay Packers fan and admired fullback Jim Taylor. When Webster was 10, his parents divorced and a year later the family home burned down. He attended Rhinelander High School and was a star athlete in wrestling and track and field; one of his ears suffered permanent damage from wrestling. He did not start playing football until his junior year. After high school in 1970, he committed to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he started at center for three seasons and was team captain his senior year. He earned All-Big Ten honors and played in several postseason games.

In Their Own Story

The tunnel at Three Rivers Stadium smelled of wet concrete and the sharp sting of deep heat rub. Mike Webster stood alone, adjusting his white jersey over shoulders broad enough to block a charging bull. He didn't need to glance at the scoreboard; he knew exactly what was on the line. While the crowd's roar vibrated through the stadium floor, it faded into silence against the quiet, laser-focused intensity in his head—a mental fortress built over fourteen seasons of war. Stepping onto the field, the biting Pittsburgh air hit him, but he barely flinched. He locked eyes with the defensive tackle across from him. No words were exchanged, only the silent promise of another collision and the rhythm of the snap count. For Webster, this wasn't just a game; it was a shift at the mill. He had a job to do, and like any true Steeler, he wouldn't clock out until the work was finished.

Reader's Guide

Webster was selected in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He served as a backup at center and guard for two years, then became the starting center in 1976, starting 150 consecutive games. He was the Steelers' offensive captain for nine years. The Steelers won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV. Webster was an All-Pro seven times and played in nine Pro Bowls. He became a free agent after the 1988 season and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing two seasons before retiring on March 11, 1991. At retirement, he was the last active player to have played on all four Super Bowl-winning teams of the 1970s Steelers. His No. 52 has not been reissued by the Steelers. The football stadium at Rhinelander High School is named Mike Webster Stadium. He was posthumously elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Did You Know?

• Webster was nicknamed "Iron Mike" for his durability and longevity.
• He was the first former NFL player diagnosed with CTE after his death.
• Webster used electroshock weapons on himself to induce sleep due to agitation from CTE.
• His son Garrett now serves as administrator to the Brain Injury Research Institute in Pittsburgh.