PITTSBURGH -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Dwight White, part of the "Steel Curtain" defense that led the team to four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s, has died following surgery at a Pittsburgh hospital. He was 58.

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The team announced White's death Friday.

"We have lost an important member of the Steelers family in Dwight White," Steelers President Art Rooney said in the statement. "His sudden death is a shock to us all. He was a dear friend."

White, who was named to the Steelers 75th Season All-Time Team, was a key member of what some argue was the best defensive line in NFL history. He played alongside "Mean" Joe Green, Ernie Holmes and L.C. Greenwood as a member of the 'Steel Curtain' front four. Holmes died in January in a car crash in Texas.

"I haven't really had anything to say about it, because I'm just trying to digest it," said Greenwood. "Tyring to realize he's really gone. We're all saddened with that."

"Dwight White was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform," said Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said in a statement. "Dwight refused to be denied, as was evidenced when he walked out of the hospital with pneumonia to play in Super Bowl IX and had an outstanding game, scoring our first points by sacking Fran Tarkenton for a safety."

"It's just sad, because it's shocking to me," said Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch. "I just had an opportunity to see him a couple weeks ago, and he seemed fine to me. But to hear this today is sad, and my heart goes out to the family."

"It kind of shocked me," said Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks. "He was a great man. I had the opportunity and pleasure of knowing him. He was just a wealth of knowledge."

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at noon at the Calvary Episcopal Church located at 315 Shady Ave. in Pittsburgh.

The family requests that donations, including flowers, be sent to The August Wilson Center of African American Culture at 425 Sixth Ave, Suite 1750, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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Full Dan Rooney Statement:

Dwight White was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform. He was a key member of the Steel Curtain defense and a member of the greatest defensive line in NFL history. He played with a relentlessness that led us to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. Dwight refused to be denied, as was evidenced when he walked out of the hospital with pneumonia to play in Super Bowl IX and had an outstanding game, scoring our first points by sacking Fran Tarkenton for a safety.

Dwight will be remembered by those who knew him even more for being a wonderful and caring person. He was committed to the city of Pittsburgh and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. Our prayers go out to his family. We will miss Dwight, but we will never forget everything he meant to the Steelers organization.

Full Art Rooney Statement:

We have lost an important member of the Steelers family in Dwight White. His sudden death is a shock to us all. He was a dear friend.

Dwight should be remembered by fans as a great football player, one who perhaps did not receive the accolades he deserved for helping make the Steelers truly a national team. He always seemed to rise to the occasion when it counted most, and added an element of toughness that was synonymous with our teams of the 1970s.

We all knew him as “Mad Dog”, but Dwight was a caring person who was very active in local charities. He also had a special gift that enabled him to liven up any room that he entered. Our prayers go out to Dwight’s family at this extremely difficult time. They will remain a member of the Steelers family, just as Dwight will always be in our thoughts.

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