John Stallworth
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John Stallworth | |
---|---|
Date of birth | July 15, 1952 |
Place of birth | Tuscaloosa, AL |
Position(s) | WR |
College | Alabama A&M |
NFL Draft | 1974 / Round 3/ Pick 82 |
Pro Bowls | 3 |
Awards | 1984 NFL Comeback POY |
Statistics | |
Team(s) | |
1974-1987 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2002 |
John Stallworth (Born July 15, 1952, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama) played for Alabama A&M in college football, becoming the Pittsburgh Steelers fourth round draft pick in 1974. He played in six AFC championships and went to four Super Bowls. His career statistics were an impressive 537 receptions for 8,723 yards and 63 TDs. His 537 receptions were a franchise record that stood until it was surpassed by Hines Ward in 2005. Stallworth played in four Pro Bowls and was the Steelers' two-time MVP.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Stallworth was an All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference receiver for Alabama A&M in 1972 and 1973.
Stallworth, blessed with great leaping ability and excellent speed, was the 82nd player taken that year. After a rookie year as an understudy, he became a starter in his second season and held that job for the rest of his 165-game career. Stallworth did battle a series of fibula, foot, ankle, knee and hamstring injuries that forced him to miss 44 regular-season games.
He is best remembered for his heroics in the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XIII, he caught a record tying 75-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw that would later be a crucial touchdown in a 35-31 Steelers win over the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the game with 3 receptions for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns
One year later, at Super Bowl XIV with the Steelers trailing the Los Angeles Rams 19-17 early in the 4th quarter, Steelers' coach Chuck Noll called for "60-Prevent-Slot-Hook-And-Go" a play that the Steelers failed in practice prior to the big game, with 12 minutes remaining, Bradshaw dropped back and threw it long to Stallworth who caught it and beat Rod Perry to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown that would pave the way for the Steelers 31-19 win and their 4th world championship. That amazing catch put Stallworth on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Overall, Stallworth recorded 3 receptions for 121 yards in the game.
Stallworth holds the Super Bowl records for career average per catch (24.4 yards) and single-game average, 40.33 yards in Super Bowl XIV. He had 12 touchdown receptions and a string of 17 straight games with a reception in post-season play.
He led the AFC with a career-high 1,395 yards gained on 80 receptions in 1984, when he was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Mr. Stallworth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Alabama A&M University.
In 1986, he founded Madison Research Corporation (MRC). The company specializes in providing engineering and information technology services to government and commercial clients. Under his leadership MRC has grown to over 650 employees and $69.5M in revenues(FY03). MRC manages six regional offices: Huntsville, AL (headquarters); Warner Robins, GA; Orlando, FL; Shalimar, FL; Montgomery, AL; Houston, TX; and Dayton, OH.
Mr. Stallworth was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of 2002.