Lynn Swann turns 61 today. Lynn Swann is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played his entire NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lynn Swann played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974-82. His career was cut short by injuries at the end. He was part of 4 Super Bowl championship teams. Lynn Swann’s stats compared to today’s star receivers look very pedestrian but keep in mind they didn’t throw the ball in the 1970’s like they do today. Swann wasn’t the greatest receiver I’ve ever seen. If I sat down and studied it I am sure he wouldn’t make the Top 2o Wide Receivers of all time list-but I’ve never seen a receiver made the great catches like Lynn Swann. He was an acrobat. He’s been retired 30 seasons and they still  talk about some of his catches. I think he was one of those players who changed the way the game is played. Not that players didn’t make acrobatic catches before Swann but he perfected it. I remember once someone telling me that Bradshaw wasn’t a very good quarterback, that Swann made him look good. I always looked at it differently-Bradshaw knew Swann could be totally covered by a cornerback-but knew he could throw the ball in places where no other receiver but Swann could get to it. Swann’s 4 catches in Super Bowl X-will be talked about as long as their is football being played and the thing is-he was covered well on all those catches by the Cowboys Mark Washington-but Swann made him look bad. Swann was a big influence on young players growing up. They saw Swann make some of those unbelieveable catches- and tried it themselves. Some of those guys would later star in the NFL.  When it comes down to it- I think there was another receiver on the Steelers back in those days who was better-fellow Hall of Fame John Stallworth. Stallworth was underrated during his day. Everyone talked of Swann. They are both in Canton.

A side note- Swann’s first wife is now married to Sugar Ray Leonard.