John Stallworth facts for kids
Stallworth in 2019
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| No. 82 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
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| Born: | July 15, 1952 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 191 lb (87 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Tuscaloosa | ||||||
| College: | Alabama A&M (1970–1973) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1974 / Round: 4 / Pick: 82 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Johnny Lee Stallworth (born July 15, 1952) is a famous former American football player. He was an amazing wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. The Steelers picked him in the fourth round of the 1974 NFL draft.
Stallworth played in six AFC Championship games and made it to four Super Bowls, winning every single one! During his career, he caught 537 passes for 8,723 yards and scored 63 touchdowns. His total number of catches was a team record for the Steelers for a long time. He also played in three Pro Bowls and was named the Steelers' Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice. In 2002, he was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
College Football Journey
Johnny Stallworth grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. When he played for Alabama A&M, he was a top receiver in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1972 and 1973. He also worked hard in school, earning degrees in Business Administration and Finance from Alabama A&M University.
His achievements in college football were recognized when he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Professional Football Career
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Stallworth as the 82nd player picked in the 1974 NFL draft. This draft class was special for the Steelers because four players from it, including Stallworth, later made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Some football scouts were not very impressed with Stallworth at first. They watched him run on a wet track, and his speed didn't look great. But a Steelers scout named Bill Nunn stayed an extra day. He saw Stallworth run much faster on a dry track. Nunn also had a special connection with college coaches, which helped him get the only video of Stallworth playing in college. It's said that he kept this video a secret from other NFL teams!
After his first year, Stallworth became a starting player in his second season. He kept that important role for the rest of his 165-game career. Like many athletes, he faced some injuries to his legs and feet during his time playing.
Super Bowl Wins
Stallworth was a key player in the Steelers' Super Bowl victories.
Super Bowl XIII Heroics
In Super Bowl XIII, Stallworth made an amazing 75-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Terry Bradshaw. This play was super important in their close 35–31 win against the Dallas Cowboys. Even though he got leg cramps later in the game, he still finished with 3 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowl XIV Game-Winner
One year later, in Super Bowl XIV, the Steelers were behind the Los Angeles Rams 19–17 in the fourth quarter. Steelers coach Chuck Noll called a special play. With 12 minutes left, Bradshaw threw a long pass to Stallworth. He caught it and ran past the defender, Rod Perry, for a 73-yard touchdown! This incredible play helped the Steelers win 31–19 and earn their fourth Super Bowl championship. This catch was so famous that Sports Illustrated magazine put Stallworth on its cover! In that game, Stallworth had three catches for 121 yards.
Stallworth holds impressive Super Bowl records. He has the best career average for yards per catch (24.4 yards). He also holds the record for the best average in a single game, with 40.33 yards per catch in Super Bowl XIV. He scored 12 touchdowns in playoff games and caught a pass in 17 straight playoff games. He even scored a touchdown in eight playoff games in a row at one point, which is an NFL record!
Other Career Highlights
In 1984, Stallworth had an amazing season. He led the AFC (American Football Conference) with 1,395 yards on 80 catches. Because of this great performance, he was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He also helped the Steelers beat the San Francisco 49ers, which was the 49ers' only loss that season before they won the Super Bowl. Stallworth also led the Steelers to a playoff win against the Denver Broncos.
Johnny Stallworth was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2002, a huge honor for any football player.
