Swann Can Look Back and Smile on Al Davis Remarks

by Bo Marchionte
Published October 21, 2024, 09:41 AM

Pittsburgh, PA – In the heart of the 1970s, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders were locked in one of the fiercest rivalries in NFL history, a personal story simmered beneath the surface—one involving Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann and the Raiders’ infamous owner, Al Davis.

Swann, known for his ballet-like grace and acrobatic catches, was a key part of Pittsburgh’s offensive arsenal. However, Davis—who prided himself on building teams with speed and aggression—had a different view.

According to Swann, Davis remarked to him that he, “Was no better than a fourth-round draft pick,” dismissing the receiver as someone who would never fit the mold of a Raiders player. It was a slight that Swann didn’t forget and one that fueled his desire to prove otherwise every time the Steelers faced the Raiders.

“I had nothing against the Raiders until Al Davis, after an all-star game in Hawaii (Hula Bowl),” Swann said during a reunion of Steelers legends prior to the 37-15 Pittsburgh win over the New York Jets. “I didn’t play well, okay, and he walked up to me and told me, just out of the blue, that I was no better than a fourth-round draft pick in the upcoming draft.”

Swann’s rivalry with Davis wasn’t just about personal pride. It became a subplot in the larger drama between two teams that seemed destined to meet in every high-stakes moment of the decade. The Raiders were known for their brash, outlaw mentality under Davis, who assembled rosters filled with hard-hitting enforcers. 

The Steelers, meanwhile, were built around grit and discipline—both in the trenches and on the edges, where Swann roamed as a receiver. Every time the two teams faced off; it was as much psychological warfare as it was a physical battle.

“I thought that was odd, but, you know, I just kind of forgot about it,” Swann said, wearing his famous No. 88 jersey. “Then I thought about it. Why would he want to come up to me and tell me something like that? Now, at first, I thought it was rude, and then I got very competitive about it.”

Swann, selected 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1974 NFL Draft, quickly silenced critics, including Davis, who had initially questioned the Steelers’ decision to draft him so high. Davis, known for favoring big, fast, and physically imposing players, criticized Swann’s slender build and doubted his ability to thrive in the NFL’s physical environment.

That competitive tension came to a head during the 1975 AFC Championship Game at Three Rivers Stadium. Swann, determined to show Davis and the Raiders that speed wasn’t everything, put on a masterclass in route running, timing, and athleticism. 

He hauled in several key catches, including a leaping sideline grab that stunned the Raiders’ secondary. His ability to glide through coverage and make clutch plays demonstrated that he wasn’t the player Davis barked at after the Hula Bowl —Swann was deliberate, precise, and unstoppable.

The Steelers won that game, earning a trip to Super Bowl IX, where Swann would begin his legacy as one of the greatest big-game performers in NFL history. But the real statement came a year later, in Super Bowl X, when Swann delivered one of the most iconic performances ever by a wide receiver. His 161 receiving yards, highlighted by an unforgettable juggling catch between defenders, earned him the game’s MVP award. The Raiders weren’t in that game, but the message was clear—Swann could dominate on the biggest stage, no matter what Al Davis thought of him.

Though the Raiders eventually got their revenge with a 1976 AFC Championship win, Swann had already carved his place in NFL history. And in a way, Davis’s slight became part of what fueled him—pushing Swann not just to be good, but great.

The Steelers-Raiders rivalry lives on as one of the NFL’s most legendary matchups. Ad in the midst of it all, Swann’s story is a reminder that as great as innovator of the game of football Davis was, he misfired on his scouting report of this future four-time Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer enshrinee. 

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com