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Lynn Swann
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Born: Alcoa, Tennessee (March 7, 1952)
College: Southern Cal
Drafted: 1974 1st Round (21st overall)
NFL Career: 1974-1982 Pittsburgh
Inductd into Hall of Fame: 2001 (Presentor John Stallworth)
It took 14 nominations before Lynn Swann became the 15th Steelers player elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but those in Pittsburgh have long been aware of what Swann meant to the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.
Drafted 21st overall in 1974, Swann joined a talented assembly of players and quickly helped the Pittsburgh offense rival the greatness of the "Steel Curtain" defense. The former USC All-American was used primarily as a punt returner in his rookie campaign, returning 41 punts for 577 yards (a 14.1-yard average) and one touchdown. He saw limited action as a wide receiver, particularly late in the season, and the Pittsburgh faithful saw glimpses of what Swann could bring to the passing game. His touchdown catch in the AFC championship game against the Oakland Raiders proved to be the game-winner.
As a receiver, Swann had it all. His study of ballet to help his fluid movement and jumping ability on the field has become legendary, but Swann possessed the speed, athleticism and cunning to complement his grace and became one of the most feared offensive weapons in the league. Opposing defenses regularly built game-plans around stopping Swann, yet he continued to reel in passes from the strong arm of Terry Bradshaw.
The 5-11, 180-pound Swann became a regular wide receiver in his second season. He recorded 49 catches for 781 yards and a league-high 11 touchdowns during the regular season.
In Super Bowl X, Swann made one of the most memorable catches in the history of the title game. He stumbled over a Dallas defender and juggled the ball before making the 53-yard grab while almost parallel to the field. A 64-yard touchdown pass from Bradshaw to Swann in the fourth quarter then decided the game. Swann earned Most Valuable Player honors with four catches for a then-Super Bowl record 161 yards in the 21-17 victory over the Cowboys.
Swann, who was born in Alcoa, Tennessee, on March 7, 1952, played seven more seasons including his swan song in 1982. He went on to win three more Super Bowls with the Steelers. He was a three time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, earning the honors after the 1975, 1977 and 1978 seasons. His career statistics include 336 receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns. His 364 receiving yards in four games ranked first in Super Bowl history at the time of his retirement.
Injuries, slowed Swann through the latter half of his career. He missed playing time in 1976 and 16 games in all during his final four seasons. When Swann was at his best, however, he was as close to automatic as an NFL receiver can be. Fortunately for the Steelers, he was often at his best when the games counted most.
REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
YEAR GAMES REC YARDS AVG TD
1974 12 11 208 18.9 2
1975 14 49 781 15.9 11
1976 12 28 516 18.4 3
1977 14 50 789 15.8 7
1978 16 61 880 14.4 11
1979 13 41 808 19.7 5
1980 13 44 710 16.1 7
1981 13 34 505 14.9 5
1982 9 18 265 14.7 0
TOTALS 115 336 5,462 16.3 51
POST SEASON (Including Super Bowls)
YEAR GAMES REC YARDS AVG TD
1974 3 5 77 15.4 1
1975 3 8 221 27.6 1
1976 2 8 135 16.9 2
1977 1 1 6 6.0 0
1978 3 13 274 21.1 3
1979 3 12 180 15.0 2
1982 1 11 41 4.0 0
TOTALS 16 47 907 19.3 9
SUPER BOWL
YEAR S.B. REC YARDS AVG TD
1974 IX 0 0 0.0 0
1975 X 4 161 40.3 1 (MVP)
1978 XIII 7 124 17.7 1
1979 XIV 5 79 15.8 1
TOTALS 4 16 364 22.3 3