When fans look back at the career of a retired high-profile athlete, a single moment often stands out above the rest. In the case of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann, the acrobatic catch he made in Super Bowl X defined a career that redefined the limits at his position. That highlight reel grab was just one of many the three-time All Pro made during his nine years in the National Football League. His graceful style on the field earned him the respect of all who watched him play. He displayed that heralded trait once again, this time off the field, when he was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame in January. Swann could leap so high, his hips would often be level with the head of his defender. Swann’s official place among football’s immortals was considered long overdue after he failed to gain entry into the Hall of Fame during his first 14 years of eligibility. The four-time Super Bowl champion continually faced the annual snub gracefully, even drawing comparison between himself and daytime soap star Susan Lucci who didn’t win an Emmy Award until her 19th nomination.”I appreciate the fact that it may have taken me 14 consecutive years to be nominated before I was selected,” said Swann. “But while it was difficult, maybe it will make me appreciate even more the honor of being in the Hall of Fame.”Swann’s career statistics aren’t overwhelming, but respectable, as he amassed 336 catches for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns. However, he wasn’t voted into the Hall of Fame for his statistics. It was largely because of his penchant for the spectacular play in high-pressure situations, which earned Swann the reputation as a big-game player, and the MVP award in Super Bowl X. Upon entering the league as a first round pick in 1974 out of USC, Swann was already renowned for gazelle-like speed and flawless footwork he developed during 14 years of dance lessons his mother insisted he take as a child. Swann could leap so high, his hips would often be level with the head of his defender. His jumping ability was a gift he’s had since playing on the junior high school basketball team when he could already dunk at 14 years old. Swann also played the piano, which resulted in a soft set of hands that held a football with the care of a new mother cradling her newborn child. While Swann predicated his game on speed, style, and grace he excelled during one of the toughest eras in the history of the NFL, often playing against the treacherous defenses of the Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and Minnesota Vikings. At 5-11, 185 pounds, he possessed average size for his position, but years of receiving big hits while running patterns across the middle of the field took its toll. Injuries plagued Swann late in his career as he missed 16 games during his final four years before a series of concussions finally drove him into early retirement after the 1982 season. Despite being a fitness-minded athlete in an era when weight lifting was more the exception than the rule, Swann’s body couldn’t withstand any more punishment. He looks at today’s NFL, where advances in medicine and fitness are allowing players to continue their careers after absorbing just as much punishment as he did. “There are certainly guys who are going to have longer careers because they are in better shape,” said Swann. “Because of that, they will do better in terms of rehabbing injuries so they should be around longer.” When Swann played during the 1970s, the heaviest players hovered around 300 pounds, but there were only a few on a team. Today, an entire starting five-man offensive line will average more than 300 pounds, with other masses of humanity waiting on the sideline to take their place.The larger, more athletic players in today’s NFL don’t surprise Swann. He sees it as a byproduct of society’s changing attitude toward overall fitness-especially in amateur athletics. “I think it’s been an ongoing change and it starts with people working out more in high school and better strength and conditioning programs in college, so when players reach the professional level, they are pretty big guys,” said Swann of today’s bigger NFL players. As people remember Swann’s career he will be recognized for possessing a variety of skills never before seen as a package in one player. His endless reel of spectacular catches will always garner the most attention, but he was a complete player who should be recognized for changing the perception of the limits at his position. And he was finally recognized for that by his peers when he was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
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