Biggest Catch of All for Swann

CANTON, Ohio —  Four Super Bowl victories in nine seasons gave Lynn Swann more than enough jewelry for his fingers.

But it took the former Pittsburgh Steeler receiver 16 years to get the ring he thought might never come--a call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Swann, a former USC star who will be inducted today, nearly gave up hope of ever making it to Canton. He was well versed in the arguments against his induction: His career was too short; he averaged only 2.9 catches a game; the hall already had 10 members from the glory days of the Steelers.

On the Saturday before each Super Bowl, the day the new class of inductees is announced, Swann would plan something to occupy his time. He would play golf, meet with business associates, anything to avoid the TV.

“When you’re optimistic every time and it doesn’t happen, then emotionally you’ve got to start protecting yourself,” said Swann, who retired with five Super Bowl records and made some of the most acrobatic catches in history.

“What I feel now is relief. A lot of satisfaction, but mostly relief.”

Few NFL stars, if any, made as many big plays throughout the 1970s as Swann--especially in important games. At the time, he set Super Bowl records for career receptions (16) and yards (364), and single-game marks for most receiving yards (161) and highest punt-return average (11.3 yards).

Many fans have enduring memories of him outjumping defensive backs, reaching impossible heights and wrapping his hands around passes another receiver would be hard pressed to touch.

“People often talk about his leaping ability and athleticism,” said fellow Pittsburgh receiver John Stallworth, who will present Swann today. “But the thing about him was he had an amazing ability to focus in on the football and defy any concerns about bodily injury. He’d make the catch, then he didn’t care what happened after that.”

Swann, who works as a sports broadcaster and a consultant for a hotel chain, said he doesn’t have a favorite catch. Instead, he’s proud of his entire body of work--Hall of Fame or not.

“Because it has taken so long, I evaluated my career and asked myself, ‘Is this good enough?’ ” he said. “My answer was, ‘Yes. It was good enough.’ There’s no need to defend what I did or what my impact was on the game.

“Being in the Hall of Fame, for me, it’s just the Hall of Fame confirming what my peers--and even my adversaries--had always believed.”