Carter's Classroom Classic: The spectacular Stallworth

The Steelers have the NFL's most Super Bowl championships and, not to be overlooked in any way, the most wide receivers to have won Super Bowl MVP.

That list includes the legend of Lynn Swann from his incredible Super Bowl X performance, Hines Ward from his contributions in Super Bowl XL and Santonio Holmes with his miraculous plays during the final drive to help the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.

But left off that list is a player that arguably should have been added to the list for the way he played in both Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV, and that's John Stallworth.

Stallworth was the receiver who worked alongside Swann during the great 1970s run and lasted long after to be the example for future players that came during different eras like Louis Lipps.

Stallworth was the player who set and held the Steelers' all-time receiving yards record with 8,723 until Ward broke it in 2007. Being part of the greatest NFL draft class of all time, when the Steelers drafted Swann, Stallworth Jack Lambert, Mike Webster and would pick up Donnie Shell as an undrafted free agent that season, Stallworth was part of the movement that put the Steelers over the top in the 1970s.

Stallworth was as versatile a receiver as they came, not nearly as flashy as Swann, but silky smooth in how he ran his routes, caught amazing passes and blazed by defenders.

Today we're digging into some old tape on the man who was arguably the Steelers' greatest wide receiver:



THE REVERSE SHOULDER TOUCHDOWN

The most legendary play for Stallworth was his reverse shoulder touchdown reception in Super Bowl XIV that helped seal the deal for the Steelers in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams.

Terry Bradshaw was known for his cannon of an arm to get it down the field and his uncanny ability to call his own plays on the field, but his accuracy often put Swann and Stallworth in positions to have to make incredible grabs.

This one was an instance when Stallworth had beaten the Rams' defense from the start of the play and just needed a simple ball leading him for the score. Bradshaw ends up floating the ball back toward the inside, but Stallworth makes the adjustment look effortless:



The way Stallworth would adjust to passes in the air helped with Bradshaw's big passing plays over the years and make him just as reliable as Swann in the biggest of moments.

BRINGING THE CRACK BACK

Before Ward would become legendary for his big blocks against opponents, Stallworth showed the ability to bring the pain as well.

In the 1975 AFC Championship Game, the Steelers and the Raiders were in the middle of a slugfest at Three Rivers Stadium. The rematch from the 1974 AFC Championship Game saw plenty of big hits, including a clothesline from George Atkinson that would take Swann out of the game.

Stallworth dished out his own big hit on a guy who was arguably the Raiders' most intimidating in the red zone:



Swann was known for his grace and dexterity, but Stallworth was the all-around talent that got the job done regardless of what was asked of him. Not to say Swann couldn't throw a good block, but Stallworth made a career out of playing out every single assignment like it was his last.

This block in particular led to Harris scoring a crucial touchdown late in the game that would help seal the Steelers' second consecutive Super Bowl appearance and keep the Raiders waiting on their season for another year.

SMOOTH

In what was arguably the greatest Super Bowl of all time, Stallworth came up big for two touchdowns early in the game. This play just exemplified how smooth he was with every move he made on the field:



Stallworth could run away from his opponents without ever making it look like he was putting on his jets, making it look like he's gliding past defenders and using the blockers in front of him.

Look at how he sets up his cutback to the inside with both Swann and Randy Grossman coming to help. Once he makes his move to the inside, he makes one man miss and then leaves Cliff Harris and the rest of the Cowboys' secondary in the dust.

LEAPING OVER LOTT

Now for a play that most Steelers fans these days might not have ever seen, let alone know about.

During the 1984 season, the Steelers were struggling to find an identity with a quarterback battle due to the vacancy left from Bradshaw. In the middle of that season, it would be Mark Malone who was at quarterback as they faced the powerhouse 49ers.

In the fourth quarter, the Steelers were down 17-10 to Joe Montana and his undefeated 49ers. That was until this third-and-goal pass in the red zone when the Steelers went to their longtime legend in the corner of the end zone:



Stallworth fully extended on this play, beating none other than the legendary Ronnie Lott for the picture-perfect touchdown. Stallworth was in his 11th season in the NFL while Lott was in his fourth season, his last as a full-time cornerback.

Let that not be any reason for you to think this wasn't a big deal at the time. Lott made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons as a cornerback before he would transfer to being a free safety.

That touchdown would be the tying score before Bryan Hinkle would make a one-handed interception on a pass from Montana that would set up a field goal to take the lead.

The 49ers would drive into field goal range to attempt a shot at overtime, but would miss the field goal as time expired, leaving the Steelers victorious at Candlestick Park.

While the New York Giants get praised for stopping the Patriots' undefeated run in Super Bowl XLII, the Steelers could also make the same claim to history, being the only team to beat a 49ers team that actually would win the Super Bowl and finish the season 18-1.

It's doubtful that the Steelers would have been able to defeat what was one of the 49ers greatest teams of all time without Stallworth's effort.

LEGACY

Stallworth was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame many years after he became eligible, and also after Swann. But he absolutely belongs there with the greatest players that ever lived.

He was not only an exemplary talent that could do whatever was asked of him, but the kind of quiet leader that shined through for the Steelers during their struggling times of the 1980's, but also was a star on a bright roster of the star-studded 1970's era.

Simply put, Stallworth's legend is recognized, but maybe not as much as it should be. There being so many Steelers on those 70's teams that deserved to be known as legends counts against the likes of L.C. Greenwood, who still has the most sacks in Super Bowl games in NFL history, and Donnie Shell, whose 51 interceptions sits just one behind Jack Butler and well above the likes of Brian Dawkins and Troy Polamalu.

Both Greenwood and Shell still aren't in the Hall, but boast four Super Bowl rings a piece, just like Stallworth.

While Stallworth wasn't known for the flashy highlights that Swann is recognized for in Super Bowl X, his contributions were every bit as important to the team winning four Super Bowls in six seasons. An accomplishment that is at the heart of Pittsburgh's claim to the title of "City of Champions.'