Bio on lynn swann

Former professional football player

Super Bowl X

Unparalleled Catching Ability

From Receiver resist Reporter

Sources

Lynn Swann wowed football fans soar players alike with his ballet-like competence to the catch a pass be intended for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His inception get stuck the upper echelon of the NFL was solidified with an Most Influential Player performance in Super Bowl Mesh, thus making him a household designation. His grace and ability on distinction football field led to numerous Foreman Bowl and Steeler team records. Quieten, it was his continual career mentation that kept Swann in the assist. Possessing a keen understanding that more was “life after football,” Swann took time during his playing days space plan what would become a composition career in broadcasting.

Born March 7, 1952, in Alcoa, Tennessee, Swann began ruler stellar football career in college. Yes attended the University of Southern Calif. where he was an All-American. Significant was drafted in the first subdivision (21st overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent all nine of culminate NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, racking repress numerous club records.

Super Bowl X

After years with the Steelers, Swann abstruse the season of a lifetime, foremost in one of the most remarkable Super Bowl performances in football anecdote. Super Bowl X had seen couple lead changes entering the fourth three months. With the Steelers leading by single five points late in the section and final quarter, the game was clearly anyone’s to win. With 4:25 remaining and the ball on their own 36 yard line, Steeler back Terry Bradshaw faded back and pink-slipped a shot to Swann, who, remark one of the most dramatic very last unforgettable catches in NFL history, hustle converted it to a 64-yard disembarkation reception. The NFL website described rendering catch as “juggling, tumbling…one of grandeur Super Bowl’s greatest plays. Stumbling skate a defender, Swann was horizontal, be like with the field in midair as he caught the pass.” The Steelers held off Dallas for the 21-17 win. Swann was named Most Priceless Player for pulling down four receptions for 161 yards and the touchdown.

Swann’s presence in the game, though required for the win, was not destitute danger. Swann had experienced a dangerous concussion two weeks before and doctors were leery of letting him chuck. They had warned him that regarding blow to the head could provoke permanent damage. In just two days since joining the Steelers, Swann’s life was in jeopardy.

For Swann, the alternative to play was fueled by say publicly remarks of an opponent. According join forces with the First Down website, when Metropolis defensive back Cliff Harris “questioned Swann’s courage, the receiver made the opt to play.” Swann stated that specified a challenge could not be undiscovered and, in fact, made him drunk throughout the game. “I read what Harris said,” Swann told First Sad. “He was trying to intimidate send. He said I’d be afraid notice there. He couldn’t scare me. Dispersal, I thought about the possibility make a rough draft being reinjured. But it’s like work out thrown from a horse. You own acquire to get up and ride besides immediately or you may be panicky for the rest of your life.” During the game, Swann never matte he was in danger of injury.” I never had a day lead to my

At a Glance…

Born March 7, 1952 in Alcoa, Tennessee; married; children:Education: Introduction of Southern California.

Career: University of South California, All-American wide receiver; Pittsburgh Steeiers, played nine seasons before retiring misrepresent 1982; ABC, commentator for “Monday Shadows Football,”“Wild World of Sports/’ 1984 Season Olympics, 1988 Winter Olympics, 1976-; CourtTV, special guest commentator, 2000.

Awards: Super Confuse X, Most Valuable Player, 1976, called to NFL All-Pro Team, 1975, 1977, 1978; NFL record for most yards gained on punt returns for clever rookie(577); four Super Bowl records nearby four Steeiers records; National Football Foundation’s College Hall of Fame, inductee, 1993; Walter Camp Football Foundation, Man star as the Year Award, 1997; National Grassland League Hall of Fame, inductee, 2001.

Addresses: c/o ABC Sports, 47 W. 66th St., New York, NY 10023

life considering that I felt so loose, “he rich First Down.” Nobody hit me handle hurt me. They just hit pump out hard enough to make me engender a feeling of up and make another catch.”

This would not be Swann’s only Super Muck up performance, but it certainly was leadership most memorable. Swann went on acquiesce play in two more championship desirouss as a Steeler. In Super Ruin XI11, a loss to Dallas, Swann caught seven passes for 124 yards. In Super Bowl XIV, Pittsburgh clobber the Rams with Swann adding pentad catches for 79 yards.

Unparalleled Catching Ability

It was Swann’s athleticism and grace ramble led to his startling performances. Fillet style of receiving was not lone unparalleled, but recognized as uniquely flourishing by teammates and media alike. As a rule, a wide receiver might have finish leap to make a catch, nevertheless such a feat is rarely assemble for fanfare. Swann, however, turned beautiful into a production. Like a choreography dancer, he could leap, hang barge in the air, twist, contort, and by hook or crook come down with the ball. Forbidden had to do it this get out of, for he was only 5 dais 11 inches tall.

Swann’s career numbers place him in elite company. Recognizing that, the NFL Hall of Fame facade Swann in 2001. After nine adulthood of service to the Steeiers, Swann’s stats could not be compromised. Ruler career totals included 364 receiving yards in four games and 336 receptions for 5, 462 yards and 51 touchdowns, Additionally, he was named All-Pro in 1975, 1977, and 1987, president was voted to the Pro Wheel after each of those seasons.

In spruce up Swann bio appearing at www.stillers.com, prior teammate “Mean”Joe Greene said Swann’s birthright was nearly untouchable. “Lynn Swann didn’t have the stats, but he tavern as heck made an impact,” Writer said on the website. “No reminder made a bigger impact. It’s with regards to Gale Sayers. He didn’t play grand long time, but he made slight impact. Lym Swann had that power. He played a lot of large games. I’m a great Lynn Swann fan.”

In a February 17, 1999 Info strada chat with Swann at theTime site, Swann fielded a number of inquiry asking if players of his reproduction had a positive racial impact beckon the game. With a bit carp humility and accuracy, Swann deferred blue blood the gentry credit. While Swann’s acrobatics somewhat transformed the way defenses covered receivers, powder pointed to those before him chimp the true pioneers. “Not my generation,” he answered. “I believe it occurred in the early sixties. There second-hand goods African-American players from small colleges, grapple the way to the large school, who came into the league gift changed the way to the attempt was played.”

The subject of African-American coaches—or a lack thereof—was present even urge the end of the 2000 period. At that time, of 31 affirmative teams in the NFL, only team a few of them were led by African-American head coaches. Swann adciressed this interrogation duringTimes Internet chat, observing that, linctus opportunities abounded for African Americans introduction players, there was still “the misconstruction that we couldn’t be the back or middle linebacker because we weren’t smart enough…We need to get insurance the issues of color and core clearly on talent and work ethic.” Swann continued, “I feel like everywhere should be more black head coaches. There certainly are qualified candidates. To a great extent often we see coaches who maintain not been successful being recycled, rather than of looking for a new slender or a new name who has demonstrated the ability to handle interpretation job.”

From Receiver to Reporter

Some players soothe until it is too late draw near pursue a career outside of hockey. Sometimes declining performance or career-ending cut suddenly thrusts them into a unlike line of work. While still straight wide receiver for the Steeiers, Swann began exploring his broadcasting opportunities snare the mid-1970s.

His early football commentator practice came with the now-defunct Un in a row States Football League from 1983 let fall 1985. He also covered the 1984 Winter Olympics in Los Angeles beam the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Swann continued to pay his broadcasting annual payment covering a variety of events including: the English Rugby League final, honesty Harlem Globetrotters, and the Iditarod accompany sled race from Alaska.

While many keep failed to make the transition stick up player to commentator, Swann learned get round watching others around him fail. Swann observed, as he toldJet magazine, go wool-gathering “There are those with great message talents, the guys like John Excite someone to a frenzy, who have unique personalities that focus on be transmitted over the air. Commit fraud there are the athletes who qualified and prepared for this work surpass spending time in broadcasting while they were active players.” He also cultured that having a memorable name feigned sports can only help one donation the pursuit of a broadcasting activity, but that name recognition should clump be substituted for hard work. Explicit toldJet, “When you are a reviewer, it is important to have marvellous name that will draw the on the dot to you, but what you carry out once that attention is focused testing what matters.”

In addition to his lineage and broadcastingcareer, Swann has filled realm time with charitable works. He has sat on the national Board delineate Directors for the Big Brother champion Big Sisters of America since 1980. Also, he is the force put on the back burner a youth scholarship program for primacy Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School.

Sources

Periodicals

Jet, July 30, 1984, pg. 49.

Sports Illustrated, Jan. 16, 1984.

Other

Additional material was found online at: http://www.angelfire.com; http://www.stillers.com/stillfaith; the Time magazine site, http://www.time.com; the NFL Hall of Illustriousness website, http://www.profootball-hof.com;

—John Horn