During the late 1970s, a period when professional football players were joining the ranks of U.S. pop-culture icons, wide receiver Lynn Swann was at the peak of his highly successful nine-year career in the National Football League. Swann played on four Super Bowl championship-winning teams for the Pittsburgh Steelers when that team was dominating NFL play. Swann's trademark was his ability to make acrobatic catches, especially at key junctures of important ballgames.

Lynn Swann at the University of Southern California.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Swann, a Tennessee native, in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft following his graduation from the University of Southern California (USC), where he had been a unanimous choice for All-American honors during his senior year. While at USC he also earned a letter as a long jumper at track.

Swann was named the Most Valuable Player in Super...