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Lynn Curtis Swann (born March 7, 1952, in Alcoa, Tennessee) is a former professional football player, sports broadcaster and the Republican nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2006 election. As a youth, Swann went to Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, and later attended college at the University of Southern California, and completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations from the USC School of Journalism. His nickname is "Swanny" to which he is often referred to by his broadcast partners and close friends.
Swann is married to Charena Swann, a psychologist, and has two sons.
Football career
Swann was an All-American at the University of Southern California, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st pick of the first round in the 1974 NFL Draft. Swann is best known for his play as a wide receiver from 1974 to 1982 with the Steelers, the only team for which he played.
Although Swann never recorded more then 880 receiving yards in a single season, his superb catching ability and clutch performance was vital to the Steelers success in the 1970s. He also superbly complimented his contemporary, fellow receiver John Stallworth, who ended his career as the Steelers all-time leading receiver.
As a rookie, Swann lead the NFL with 577 punt return yards, a franchise record and the fourth most in NFL history at the time. He went on to win a championship ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl IX but did not record any receptions in the tough defensive struggle (Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed only nine passes in the game). However, he had a good performance on special teams, returning 3 punts for 34 yards.
The following season became the highlight of Swann's career. He caught 49 passes for 781 yards and a league leading 11 touchdowns. In the AFC title game against the Los Angeles Raiders he suffered a severe concussion that forced him to spend two days in a hospital, but surprised many by returning to play for Super 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 and becoming the first wide receiver to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
Two seasons later, the Steelers made it to Super Bowl XIII, and Swann once again had an outstanding performance. He caught seven passes for 124 yards and scored the final touchdown for Pittsburgh in their 35-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers made it back to the Super Bowl again in the 1979 season, and for the third time, Swann was a key component in the Steelers win. He caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 31-19 win in Super Bowl XIV. Overall, Swann gained 364 receiving yards and 398 all-purpose yards in his four Super Bowls, which were both Super Bowl records at the time.
Swann retired after the 1982 season with 336 career receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns. He also rushed for 72 yards and gained 739 yards and a touchdown on punt returns. Swann was a pro bowl selection three times (1975, 1977, 1978) and was selected on the 1970s all-decade team.
Swann was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Though his professional career didn't yield large statistics, Swann was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
Post-football career
Swann is the former Chairman of the United States President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and serves as a director on the boards of H J Heinz Co. and Wyndham International. He has been a football and sports broadcaster for ABC Sports since 1976 but is currently on leave from this to pursue a political career (see below). Swann also briefly hosted the television game show To Tell the Truth, on which he had previously appeared as a panelist, on NBC from 1990 to 1991. His fourteen-week run as emcee met with critical disdain, and he was replaced by Alex Trebek.
2006 candidacy for governor
In December 2004, Swann, who resides in the Pittsburgh suburb of Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania, indicated that he was considering seeking the Republican nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2006 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 for Governor of Pennsylvania.
Swann's opponents in the Republican primary scheduled for May 16, 2006 had initially included Jim Panyard, Pennsylvania State Senator Jeff Piccola, and former Pennsylvania Lt. Governor William W. Scranton, III. Once Swann received the endorsement of the Republican state committee on February 11, 2006, all three opponents were gone from the race, leaving Swann with a clear path to the general election on November 7, 2006, as the only Republican to have filed by the deadline of March 7, 2006. Swann will face the incumbent, Democratic Governor Ed Rendell. If Lynn Swann were to win, he would become the first African-American governor of Pennsylvania.
Three polls in May 2006 show Swann trailing Rendell by an increasing margin compared to the prior several months. A Quinnipiac College poll estimates Swann is 22 percentage points behind Rendell. Franklin & Marshall's Keystone Poll shows Swann trailing by 14 percentage points. Strategic Vision has Swann within eight points. An April 29 Rasmussen Report poll has Swann leading by three points in a two-way race.
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1952 births | Living people | People from Tennessee | People from Pittsburgh | African American football players | American football wide receivers | USC Trojans football players | Pittsburgh Steelers players | AFC Pro Bowl players | College Football Hall of Fame | Pro Football Hall of Fame | Monday Night Football | American sports announcers | Game show hosts | ABC Sports | African American politicians | game show panelists | To Tell the Truth panelists
"Lynn Swann"