 Swann in 2005 | |||||||||
| No. 88 | |||||||||
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| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1952-03-07)March 7, 1952 (age 73) Alcoa, Tennessee, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Junípero Serra (San Mateo, California) | ||||||||
| College | USC (1970–1973) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1974: 1st round, 21st overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Lynn Curtis Swann (born March 7, 1952) is an American former professionalfootball player, broadcaster, politician, and athletic director, best known for his association with theUniversity of Southern California and thePittsburgh Steelers. He served on thePresident's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition from 2002 to 2005. In2006, he was theRepublican nominee forGovernor of Pennsylvania.
Swann was born in Alcoa, Tennessee. He attended USC and played football as a wide receiver of theUSC Trojans, where he was a consensusAll-American. He is regarded as one of the most popular and one of the greatest wide receivers of his generation. He was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the1974 NFL draft. With the Steelers, Swann won four Super Bowls, was selected to three Pro Bowls, and was namedMVP ofSuper Bowl X. Swann was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
Swann was born March 7, 1952, inAlcoa, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains nearKnoxville.
The Swann family moved toSan Mateo, California, in theSan Francisco Bay Area when Lynn was 2.[1] As a youth, Swann was raised in neighboringFoster City and attendedJunípero Serra High School, where in addition to playing football, he was a track star, leaping 24 ft 10 in (7.57 m) in thelong jump. Swann had also joined the basketball team and had an interest in ballet. His basketball teammate,Peter Barsocchini was aware of Swann's passion for ballet, which inspired him to write theHigh School Musical film, with Swann serving as an inspiration for the character ofTroy Bolton.[2]
At the 1970 CIF California State championship meet, Swann won the state title, defeating future Olympic gold medalistRandy Williams.[3]
Swann attended theUniversity of Southern California inLos Angeles, where he was a consensusAll-American on theTrojan football team under head coachJohn McKay, including the undefeated andnational champion1972 team. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace."[4] He completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in public relations in 1974.
In1971, Swann had 27 catches for 305 yards and twotouchdowns. He led USC in catches and finished second to WR Edesel Garrison in receiving yards. As a junior in 1972, Swann rushed for 117 yards and had 27 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns. This time, he led USC in receiving yards and finished second totight endCharle Young in catches. In1973, Swann rushed for 99 yards while catching 42 passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns.
Swann was selected in the first round of the1974 NFL draft by thePittsburgh Steelers with the 21st overall pick.[5] The Steelers draft class of '74 is considered one of the best in NFL history and includes fourHall of Famers: Swann,Jack Lambert (RD2),John Stallworth (RD4), andMike Webster (RD5). Undrafted 1974 free agent signeeDonnie Shell is also a hall of famer.[6]
Swann spent his entire NFL career with the Steelers and wore the jersey number 88. As a rookie in1974, he led the NFL with 577 punt-return yards, a franchise record and the fourth-most in NFL history at the time.[7] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[8] He went on to win a championship ring with the Steelers inSuper Bowl IX, but did not record any receptions in the tough defensive struggle (Pittsburgh quarterbackTerry Bradshaw completed only nine passes in the game). However, he returned three punts for 34 yards.[9]
Thefollowing season became the highlight of Swann's career. He caught 49 passes for 781 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdowns.[10][11] In theAFC title game against theOakland Raiders,George Atkinson knocked Swann out of the game with a very hard but legal hit. He suffered a severe concussion that forced him to spend two days in a hospital, but surprised many by returning to play forSuper Bowl X. Swann recorded four catches for a Super Bowl-record 161 yards and a touchdown in the game, assisting the Steelers to a 21–17 win over theDallas Cowboys and became the first wide receiver to earnSuper Bowl MVP honors.[12][13]
Three seasons later, in 1978, the Steelers made it toSuper Bowl XIII. In the game, Swann caught seven passes for 124 yards and scored the final touchdown for Pittsburgh in their 35–31 win overDallas.[14]
The Steelers made it back to the Super Bowl again in the1979 season, and Swann caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown at theRose Bowl in Pittsburgh's 31–19 win over theLos Angeles Rams inSuper Bowl XIV.[15] Overall, Swann gained 364 receiving yards and 398 all-purpose yards in his fourSuper Bowls, which were both Super Bowl records at the time.
Swann retired after the1982 season with four Super Bowl rings. In his nine-year career, he amassed 336 career receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns, 72 rushing yards on 11 attempts and a touchdown, and 739 punt return yards and a touchdown. He was aPro Bowl selection three times (1975,1977,1978), and was selected to the1970s All-Decade Team.[16][17][18][19]
Swann was unique among football players in that he credited his experiences indance earlier in life with contributing to his aptitude on the football field. A 1981 interview which aired onMr. Rogers' Neighborhood showed him on the field, and then in the Pittsburgh dance studio where he later underwrote scholarships.[20]
Swann was named to theAll-Pro team in1975,1977, and1978, and was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame in2001, a year before his teammate John Stallworth.[21]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Super Bowl MVP | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | PIT | 12 | 11 | 208 | 18.9 | 2 |
| 1975 | PIT | 14 | 49 | 781 | 15.9 | 11 |
| 1976 | PIT | 12 | 28 | 516 | 18.4 | 3 |
| 1977 | PIT | 14 | 50 | 789 | 15.8 | 7 |
| 1978 | PIT | 16 | 61 | 880 | 14.4 | 11 |
| 1979 | PIT | 13 | 41 | 808 | 19.7 | 5 |
| 1980 | PIT | 13 | 44 | 710 | 16.1 | 7 |
| 1981 | PIT | 13 | 34 | 505 | 14.9 | 5 |
| 1982 | PIT | 9 | 18 | 265 | 14.7 | 0 |
| Career[22] | 116 | 336 | 5,462 | 16.3 | 51 | |
Swann went on to serve as a director on the boards ofH J Heinz Co., Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, andWyndham International. He was a football and sports broadcaster forABC Sports from 1976 to 2006, but left to run forPennsylvania governor.
Swann briefly hosted the televisiongame showTo Tell the Truth, on which he had previously appeared as a panelist before replacing original hostGordon Elliott, onNBC from 1990 to 1991. His 14-week run asemcee ended, and he was replaced byAlex Trebek. He made guest appearances onMister Rogers' Neighborhood, where he explained his enthusiasm forballet,[23] andThe Paper Chase.[24]
During his time at ABC, Lynn Swann began his broadcasting career in 1976 while still active with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Upon retirement in January 1983, Swann began his career full-time with ABC Sports, which ended after the2006 Sugar Bowl. Swann has broadcast a variety of events as a host, reporter, and analyst. Included in these events are:
Swann was the sideline reporter on CBS' "Clash of Champions" bowling telecast that aired on May 10–11, 2008. He teamed with color analystNelson Burton Jr. and play-by-play manBill Macatee. The broadcast marked bowling's return tonetwork television for the first time since 1999 when CBS carried it.
In October 2009, Swann joined theAugusta National Golf Club. He is a dues-paying member of the home of the Masters golf tournament, which is held every April.
On August 19, 2010, thePittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Swann would be a part of the ownership team forPittsburgh's AFL expansion franchise, which began playing in the spring of 2011.[25] Named thePittsburgh Power, the team shared theConsol Energy Center with thePittsburgh Penguins of theNational Hockey League. Swann has said that, despite his football experience, he does not interfere in the day-to-day coaching, although he would occasionally give some advice.[26] The team folded in 2014.
Swann made an appearance, playing himself, in the role of a sideline reporter at the "Bourbon Bowl", in the 1998Adam Sandler comedy feature filmThe Waterboy. He was inducted into theRose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 30, 2013, at the Pasadena Convention Center.
On April 13, 2016, Swann was named as the athletic director of the University of Southern California, succeeding retiringPat Haden. He assumed the position on July 1, 2016.[27] On September 9, 2019, Swann resigned as the USC AD.[28][29]
On June 20, 2002, PresidentGeorge W. Bush appointed Swann as the chairman of the United StatesPresident's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during a Fitness Expo at the White House.[30] Swann succeededLee Haney, who had been appointed to the post by President Clinton.
In 2003, President Bush and Chairman Lynn Swann launched presidentschallenge.org at the Lakewest Family YMCA in Dallas, Texas. Within the next year, 300,000 individuals registered on the website. Swann spoke at the National Press Club about the council's programs to help Americans "Be Physically Active Every Day," and introduced the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.
In 2004, Swann and President Bush declared May as an annual "National Physical Fitness and Sports" month, and created the annual HealthierUS Fitness Festival. They also enacted the Healthier Feds Physical Activity Challenge initiative for federal employees. On July 30, 2005, Lynn Swann retired as council chairman to explore a campaign for governor. He was succeeded by John P. Burke.
In December 2004, Swann, who resides in the Pittsburgh suburb ofSewickley Heights, Pennsylvania, indicated that he was considering seeking theRepublican nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania in the2006 election. On February 23, 2005, Swann filed papers with the state elections board stating his intention to run. On the same day, he formed a fundraising committee called Team 88 after his Steeler jersey number. On January 4, 2006, Swann formally declared his candidacy.[31]
Swann's opponents for the Republicanprimary had initially included Jim Panyard,State SenatorJeff Piccola and formerLieutenant GovernorWilliam Scranton, III. After Swann received the endorsement of the Republican state committee on February 11, all three opponents quit the race, leaving Swann as the only Republican to have filed by the deadline of March 7. Swann choseMontgomery County CommissionerJim Matthews as his running mate.
Polls in early February showed Swann andEd Rendell in a statistical tie,[32] though Rendell had the advantage of being the popular incumbent.[33] Swann's campaign focused on reforming Harrisburg by addressing mass transit, property tax, law enforcement, the environment and the growing concern of obesity. He also supported giving thePittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh's lone slots license so they could build a new arena, free of taxpayer money.
Swann's momentum did not survive a barrage of advertising from Rendell in early spring, and had trouble keeping up with Rendell's effective fundraising.[34] In the end, Swann lost the election with 40% of the vote to Rendell's 60%. Had Swann won, he would have been the first African American Governor ofPennsylvania and only the third African American elected governor of a state in U.S. history. Of the three Republican African American gubernatorial candidates in 2006, all three of them lost;Kenneth Blackwell lost in Ohio, andRandy Daniels lost in New York.
In 2008, Swann confirmed that he was considering running for theUnited States House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 4th congressional district against Rep.Jason Altmire.[35] However, Swann did not file for the election and former congresswomanMelissa Hart won the Republican nomination unopposed and then lost to Altmire in the 2008 general election.[36]
In the2008 presidential election, Swann endorsed and campaigned with Arizona SenatorJohn McCain for the presidency, though Swann had remained neutral through the primaries. In2012, he did the same for former Massachusetts GovernorMitt Romney, once Romney had become the presumptive Republican nominee.[37]
In 2015, before the primary elections, Swann announced his support of former Florida GovernorJeb Bush, while also criticizingDonald Trump.[38]
On June 10, 1979, during the summer after winningSuper Bowl XIII, Swann married Bernadette Robi, the daughter of singer Paul Robi ofThe Platters. The pair divorced in 1983.
On June 23, 1991, Swann married Charena (née Shaffer), apsychologist, and they have two sons who played football collegiately.[39]
Mister Rogers visits a dance studio where football great Lynn Swann shows his football uniform and how he dances ballet.
Lynn Swann George Bush.
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Host ofTo Tell the Truth 1990–1991 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of thePresident's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports 2002–2005 | Succeeded by John Burke |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Pennsylvania 2006 | Succeeded by |