Michael Lewis Webster (March 18, 1952September 24, 2002) was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1990 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster anchored the Steelers' offensive line during much of their run of four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979 and is considered by many the greatest center in NFL history. Webster died in 2002 at the age of 50 of a heart attack, and subsequently was the first former NFL player diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Since his death, he has become a symbol for head injuries in the NFL and the ongoing debate over player safety. His doctors were of the opinion that multiple concussions during his career damaged his frontal lobe, which caused cognitive dysfunction. Early life Webster was born in Tomahawk, Wisconsin on March 18, 1952 as the second child of six children. Webster grew up on a 640-acre potato farm near Harshaw, Wisconsin. As a child, Webster idolized Green Bay Packers fullback Jim Taylor. Webster attended Rhinelander High School, where he earned accolades in wrestling. Due to Webster's responsibilities on his family's farm, he did not play football until his junior year. Despite Webster's late start, he quickly learned how to command the offensive line and earned a football scholarship. Following his graduation in 1969, Webster committed to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Football career Mike Webster was regarded as the best center in the Big Ten during most of his career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. At 6-foot-1, 255 pounds, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Serving as a backup at center and guard for two years while being mentored by veteran center Ray Mansfield, Webster became the team's starting center in 1976, where he remained for 150 consecutive games. He was the Steelers' offensive captain for nine years.This ended in 1986 when he dislocated his elbow, causing him to sit out for four games. With the Steelers winning Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, and XIV, Webster and Terry Bradshaw form one of the best-known center–quarterback pairs in history. Webster was honored as an All-Pro seven times and played in the Pro Bowl nine times. An avid weightlifter, Webster was known