NFL HOF Spotlight: Lynn Swann

This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on lightning-fast wide receiver Lynn Swann. Swann spent nine seasons in the NFL playing for the same team: the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smashing several records and doing insane stuff on the gridiron, it was nine years well spent.

In this article, we’ll illuminate Swann’s phenomenal football career and explain why it was impossible to leave out of the NFL Hall of Fame.

How Swann Became Swann

Although Swann was born in Tennessee on March 7, 1952, his parents moved to California when he was just two years old. He started playing football in his high school days, alongside track events like the long jump. But whether it was on the gridiron or the track, one thing was consistent with Swann: Excellence.

Getting into the University of Southern California in 1970, he made his presence felt in the USC Trojan Football team. Swann became a national champion in 1972. In 1973, he was named a consensus All-American. His mark in college football remains indelible and it didn’t go unnoticed in the NFL Draft.

The Steelers made Swann the 21st overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft.

Swann’s Professional Football Career

Swann immediately got things up and rolling once he stepped foot in the NFL. In his rookie season, he led the league in punt returns with 577 yards on 41 returns. As a testament to an excellent season, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Swann and the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl IX. It was a fantastic way to end a successful first year of life in the NFL.

Super Bowl X MVP

The following season was perhaps the most significant year of Swann’s incredible career. He had become a starter in offense—a move that came with instant rewards for the franchise. Swann finished the regular season with the highest receiving touchdowns (11) in the league. But his performance in the Super Bowl especially, was nothing short of legendary.

However, Swann’s appearance in Super Bowl X almost didn’t happen. In the heated AFC title battle with the Oakland Raiders, George Atkinson knocked Swann into a severe concussion. Hospitalized for two days, Swann managed to make it for the Super Bowl showdown.

In the first quarter of the Super Bowl game, Swann made a super 32-yard catch, nicknamed, “The Kangaroo Catch.” The Steelers were on the back foot but steady and relentless. Then, Terry Bradshaw unleashed the 32-yard pass to Swann. The wide receiver produced a moment of pure artistry in catching that pass.

Then later on in the game, came one of the craziest catches football had ever seen. The Steelers, losing 10-7, needed a bright spark. Swann provided that spark. Deep in the Steelers’ territory, Bradshaw let the ball fly downfield. Swann, shadowed tightly by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mark Washington, leaped high near midfield. With the ball still in the air, Washington fell. Swann stumbled over him but never took his eyes off the prize. As Swann’s body hit the turf, the ball gracefully found his grasp. Somehow, Swann was able to quickly rise and gain a few more precious yards before being stopped at the Dallas 37. The catch was nicknamed “The levitating leap.” Swann made two other catches in the game. Included in those catches was a top-draw 64-yard catch that produced a touchdown. Not often do you see a guy make three legendary catches in one game.

Swann completed a then-Super Bowl record of 161 receiving yards. The Steelers came out victorious with a 21-17 scoreline. Who else would be named MVP other than the phenomenal Swann?

Two More Super Bowls

Three seasons later, Swann and the Steelers made it into yet another Super Bowl (XIII). It came after another stellar individual season for Swann. He recorded a career-high 880 receiving yards.

In Super Bowl XIII, the Steelers faced the Cowboys. What seemed like a revenge opportunity for the Cowboys ended up being a repeat of Super Bowl X.

Although Swann didn’t win the MVP this time, his excellent catching was on show again. He caught seven passes for 124 yards. He then finished things off by scoring Pittsburgh’s final touchdown. With three championship rings in the bag, Swann was definitely living the life.

However, he wasn’t done yet. The Steelers were in Super Bowl XIV the very next season and were not prepared to give up glory. They outmuscled the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 to claim their fourth Super Bowl championship.

Swann showed excellent leadership in the receiving department. He finished as the team’s leader in receptions and scored a touchdown.

Swann’s Spectacular Displays All Thanks to Dance?

In Swann’s youth, he took dance very seriously, ballet specifically. Ballet demanded a certain level of flexibility and agility. Body control was also not strange for ballet dancers.

Swann possessed all these and perhaps, it helped him elevate his game. He could leap higher and land softer than the average NFL player.

He moved his body so skillfully, helping him navigate defenders and make impossible catches. John McKay, the Head coach of the USC Trojan Football team during Swann’s time there, said of Swann, “He has speed, soft hands, and grace.”

Meanwhile, Steelers head coach Chuck Noll confessed that Swann already had it in him even before going pro. Noll said, “I would like to say that we developed Lynn Swann, but the truth is, he was perfectly developed as a football player the first time he stepped out on our practice field.”

Swann retired in 1982. He finished his career with 336 receptions for 5,462 yards, scoring 51 touchdowns.

Career Accolades

Swann’s nine seasons in the NFL were filled with achievements. He won four Super Bowls, one of which he was named MVP.

He made the AP First-team All-Pro in 1978 and the All-Pro Second-team in 1975 and 1977. Swann also earned three Pro Bowl selections.

His awards and honors include the All-NFL Team of the 1970s, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team, the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team of 1974, and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, amongst many others.

Swann was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

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