Memorable Games from 25 Steelers Legends: No. 19 -- John Stallworth

by Michael Bean on Nov 25, 2011 2:50 PM EST

Onward with Michael Uhlhorn's next entry in the (so-far) well received series titled '25 Memorable Games from 25 Steelers Legends'. With the Steelers still not back from their bye week, let's double-dip this week and file another addition to the list. The premise is to highlight individual games that Steeler Nation will always remember their career by. Not surprisingly, and just as Michael and I had hoped would happen, you all have offered some outstanding additions to the conversation. Our next addition to the list is a Hall of Famer with a long list of memorable games to choose from. - Michael B. -

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19) John Stallworth - Wide Receiver (1974-1987)

John Stallworth was a fourth round selection in 1974 out of Alabama A&M, and was one of four Hall of Famers selected in the 1974 draft. Many consider the Steelers' '74 draft class to be the greatest ever, and Stallworth has the best stats in the class. Some people here will want Stallworth to be higher on this list, and many will say he should be above Lynn Swann (and maybe he should) but I have always had a soft spot for Swann and think he contributed more in bigger games. There is no doubting though, that until Hines Ward shattered every receiving record the Steelers had, John Stallworth was, at least statistically, the greatest WR in franchise history.

John Stallworth won 4 Super Bowls; made the Pro Bowl 4 times; was selected to two All-Pro teams; and is 2^nd on the Steelers All-Time in receiving yards, touchdowns, receptions, games played by a wide receiver, and 8^th in points-scored among all players.

Career Game: 1978 Divisional Round vs. Denver Broncos (12/30/1978)

Statistics: 10 receptions for 156 yards (15.6 avg.) and 1 touchdown.

By the time the 1978 playoffs came around, Pittsburgh had already seen two championships brought home, and no team had won more than two Super Bowls in NFL history. As we all know, that would soon change.

The path to the Steelers' third championship started December 30, 1978 at Three Rivers Stadium. The Denver Broncos were trying to take on the mighty Steelers, and even though they were heavy underdogs, the Broncos kept the game close for three quarters, until John Stallworth caught a spectacular 45-yard touchdown. Ironically for the purposes of this post, John Stallworth's greatest game happened on a day when he wasn't even his team's best player. Franco Harris rushed for two early touchdowns to build the lead, and finished with over 100 yards on the ground. Harris was the MVP of the game for the Steelers, but Stallworth stretched the field enough to allow the open running lanes for Harris.

When the offense had the ball, it seemed as though either Harris was shredding would-be tacklers, or Stallworth was making big gains into the secondary. Even though Harris and Stallworth had big days, the Broncos were able to keep the game close by chipping away with a touchdown and field-goal. I'll let the writers from Steelers.com tell you what happened next:

"To set the scene: Leading 19-10 in the fourth quarter of the game, the Steelers were faced with a second-and-eight at the Broncos 45-yard line. The Steelers had been in command throughout much of the game but the Broncos remained within reach. Stallworth's catch, though, clinched the game. Stallworth leaped over Broncos All-Pro cornerback Steve Foley and caught a Bradshaw pass as he tumbled over the end line, one of many acrobatic catches Stallworth made during his illustrious career."*

* Taken from a great snippet from Steelers.com:

(http://www.steelers.com/history/three-rivers/9th-great-game-and-play.html)

Later in the fourth quarter, Lynn Swann added another touchdown to his impressive playoff resume, and the Steelers turned a close game into a laugher. But as Steelers.com noted, the 9^th greatest play in Three Rivers' history belonged to John Stallworth, and the greatest game of his career would feature arguably the greatest catch of his career.

Though many of us younger readers will remember another Steelers vs. Broncos game with fonder memories (2005 AFCCG), I am jealous of anyone who was alive to watch one of the greatest teams of all-time on the path to the most championships in league history.

Video: An episode of the series, "America's Game," about the 1978 Steelers from Hulu (narrated by Bruce Willis: awesome). The Broncos' game starts at 30:30. At 31:40, you will see Stallworth's catch and just before that an absurd catch from Lynn Swann.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/123684/americas-game-1978-pittsburgh-steelers

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The Countdown:

No. 25 - Casey Hampton (12/10/2010)

No. 24 - Rocky Bleier (10/26/1975)

No. 23 -- Donnie Shell (09/07/1980)

No. 22 -- Alan Faneca (12/07/2006)

No. 21 -- John Henry Johnson (12/11/1960)

No. 20 -- Greg Lloyd (01/14/1996)

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Comments

Super Bowl XIV

I would have gone a with SB XIV, but, I can’t remember if you’re doing SB’s. Maybe his numbers weren’t quite what they were in this game, but I seem to remember Bradshaw saying that Stallworth should have been the MVP of SB XIV. Maybe I’m biased though, because that SB is the first game that I remember.

Wish I could have seen more of the great games back then!

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Nov 25, 2011 5:22 PM EST via mobile reply actions

if you are interested, i have a way you can see some old games.

all four 70’s SB’s and I believe a couple playoff games. email is in profile.

This message will self destruct

Who the hell's interrupting my Kung Fu? - Black Dynamite

With two D's, for a double dose of this pimpin'

by FrankWyt on Nov 25, 2011 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

Nobody could stop both Stallworth & Swann.

Both guys were very fast, ran precise routes, had great hands and excellent leaping ability: everything you want in a WR.

by Billy52 on Nov 25, 2011 7:23 PM EST reply actions

Nightmare for defensive coordinators

I think one of the reasons Stallworth & Swann were great receivers were their abilities to go short or long. Both men were able to go over the middle and absorb punishment, while having the element of substantial yards after the catch. Of course, we remember the numerous long passes as well.

It was also helpful both players were unselfish. Each player realized their personal stats could have been better on another club, but they understood team success was the bottom line.

by SteelStealth on Nov 25, 2011 9:06 PM EST up reply actions

And as Jack Ham once said, "There was no free agency back then."

by Billy52 on Nov 25, 2011 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

The hits were more punishing

I remember 82 and 88 taking vicious hits (most memorable from the thugs of Oakland). Plus, the equipment wasn’t as good as it is now, especially helmets. Bradshaw seemed to “hang them out” frequently, but Stallworth usually came down with the ball. Hear that he is quite the successful businessman now. Seemed to be a great guy as well as a great football player. Love the story about the Steelers keeping the film on him prior to the draft.

"The standard is the standard." Mike Tomlin
The standard for Steeler football is #58. Me

by The 58 Standard on Nov 26, 2011 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

I believe Stallworth owns

a small percentage of the Steelers, in collaboration with others, so he planned well after his playing days ended.

While players are bigger now, they don’t have to deal with the astroturf fields of the 1970s-1990s. Astroturf fields were like playing on cement, and players also were injured on the seams of that surface. September games could be hell, because of the way heat radiated from astroturf surfaces. It’s fair to wonder if Three Rivers Stadium had been a grass field, if the careers and team success of the Steelers in the 70s may have lasted a little longer. Turf toe was common with astroturf, and moving forward, we recall Jack Lambert suffering that eventual career-ending injury in the 1984 season opener at TRS.

by SteelStealth on Nov 26, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions