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BIRTHDATE--March 7, 1952 BIRTHPLACE--Alcoa, Tennessee HOW ACQUIRED--Draft (1st in '74) COLLEGE--Southern California HEIGHT--6'03" WEIGHT--180 NFL EXP.--7 years GAMES PLAYED--'74 (12), '75 (14), '76 (12), '77 (14), '78 (16), '79 (13) PRO: Is one of the greatest big-game and clutch receivers in pro football history..... Because of court action which forced him to miss the first three weeks of training camp along with toe and hamstring injuries, his receptions dropped in 1979 but still delivered in key situations, especially in the postseason..... Missed three full games and was limited in several others which nullified All-Pro chances..... Failed to lead the team in receiving for the first time in five seasons..... Had 41 receptions and five touchdowns with 32 catches and all 5 TDs coming in the last nine games..... Jumped from fourth to second on the Steelers all-time receiving list with 240 career catches and trails only Elbie Nickel (329)..... Had a career high 192 yards receiving in the second Cincinnati game and scored his first pro TD rushing vs. Houston..... Average of 19.7 per catch was the highest of his career and the 65-yard play vs. Denver was the longest of his career..... Is third on teams all-time yardage receiving list with 3,982 behind Nickel (5,133) and Buddy Dial (4,723) and trails only Dial in TD catches, 42-39..... Is the 15th leading active receiver in the AFC and is tied for 8th in TD catches in the conference..... His 12 postseason receptions last year tied him with teammate John Stallworth for the NFL lead and for the third time topped all players in receptions in the Super Bowl..... Had five for 79 yards and one TD, a sensational, leaping 47-yard catch between two L.A. defenders..... Holds Super Bowl career records for receptions (16), yards receiving (364), average yards per catch (22.8) and is tied with Stallworth for TD receptions (3)..... Also owns single game yardage mark with 161 on four catches vs. Dallas in S.B. X which earned him MVP honors..... Also holds single game SB records for highest average gain pass receiving (40.3 vs. Dallas, 1-18-76)..... Nine postseason TDs is only one behind all-time leader Fred Biletnikoff and 47 receptions and 893 yards rank him third in these categories behind Biletnikoff (70-1,167) and Paul Warfield (58-1,121)..... His postseason average of 19.0 is one of the highest of all-time and considerably better than regular season mark..... Had best season in 1978 when he ranked third in the AFC with 61 receptions, the fourth highest total in team history and matched his career high of 11 TDs..... Was the only WR to make every major All-Pro team that season and was elected to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the 3rd time in four years..... Had best single game totals of eight catches vs. San Francisco..... Was a number one draft choice and the first WR selected in 1974 draft..... Was outstanding as a punt returner in his first season..... Had a 14.1 which was third in the AFC and fourth highest in Steeler history..... Set team records with 41 returns for 577 yards, the first of which was broken last season by Theo Bell (45)..... Had a 64-yard TD return vs. New Orleans which is the last time a Steeler scored a TD on a punt return..... Since then has been used infrequently in this role..... Scored the winning TD on a pass reception in 1974 AFC Championship game vs. Oakland..... In the Super Bowl that year set game record vs. Minnesota which still stands of 11.3 average on punt returns..... Became a starter in 1975, replacing Ron Shanklin, and caught 49 passes to rank 6th in AFC..... His 11 TD receptions tied for NFL lead..... Made All-Pro and played in the Pro Bowl for the first time..... His great Super Bowl vs. Dallas followed, which included the game winning score on a 64-yard pass..... Injuries slowed him in 1976 but he came back the following year to again earn All-Pro honors..... Has had eight 2-TD games and eight 100-yard games in his career..... Was named to the All-NFL Team of the Decade by College and Pro Football Newsweekly..... Is a complete player and one of the best blocking WRs in the NFL..... Has great timing and jumping ability and is a very fierce competitor. COLLEGE: Three year starter..... 1st team All America AP, UPI, Football Writers, Time and Kodak in 1973..... Also selected to "Blocking" All America team..... Holds all-time school record with 95 receptions and his 1,562 yards is the second best career mark..... Led PAC-8 in receiving in 1973 with 42 catches..... Caught six passes in the 1973 Rose Bowl and five more the next year..... Is USC's third leading all-time punt returner..... Lettered as a long jumper in sophomore year..... Public Relations major. PERSONAL: Lives in Marina del Rey, California..... Married (Bernadette)..... Works as a sportscaster for KABC-TV in Los Angeles in the off-season and does considerable network broadcasting for ABC..... Is on the Board of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre..... Received the Image Award from the NAACP in 1979 and named the Multiple Sclerosis Athelete of the Year in 1980..... Was a high school All American in San Mateo, California..... Has participated in several Super Star team and individual competitions..... Wife is a top fashion model. |
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