by Robert Steadman

Created on: January 26, 2009   Last Updated: January 05, 2012

John Lee Stallworth, born on July 15, 1952, in Tuscaloosa Alabama, isa cousin of Ron Stallworth who played for the Atlanta Hawks. John Stallworth is a retired wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stallworth played college football at Alabama A&M, becoming the Steelers fourth-round pick in 1974. John Stallworth played in six AFC Championship games, and went to four Super Bowls. John's career statistics were an impressive; 537 receptions for 8,723 yards 63 touchdowns. John receptions were a franchize record until it was surpassed by Hines Ward in 2005. John Stallworth played in four Pro-Bowls 1979,1982, 1983, 1984 and was the Steelers two-time MVP.

John Stallworth was blessed with great leaping ability and excellent speed. John was the 82nd player to be taken that year. After John's rookie season as an understudy, John became a starter in his second season and held that job for the rest of his 165 game career. John Stallworth did battle a series of fibula, foot, ankle, knee, and hamstring injuries that forced him to miss 44 regular season games. John Stallworth was best remembered for his actions in the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XIII, John caught a record-type 75-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw that would be a crucial touchdown in a 35-31 win ove the Dallas Cowboys. John suffered leg cramps and played sparingly in the second half, finishing with 3 receptions for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns.

One year later, at Super Bowl XIV with the Steelers trailing the L.A. Rams 19-17 early in fourth quarter, Steelers' coach Chuck Noll called for "60-prevent-slot-hook-and-go," a play the Steelers failed in practice prior to the big game. With 12 minutes remaining, Bradshaw dropped back and threw it long to Stallworth, who caught it and beat Rod Perry to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown that would pave the way for the Steelers 31-19 win and their fourth world championship. That amazing catch put Stallworth on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Overall he recorded 3 catches for 121 yards in the game. John Stallworth holds the Super Bowl records for career average per catch (24.4 yards) and a single game average 40.33 yards in Super Bowl XIV. John had 12 touchdown reception in post season play. John Stallworth also scored touchdowns in eight straight playoff games at one point (1978-1983), an NFL record.

John Stallworth led the AFC with a career high 1,395 yards gained on 80 receptions in 1984, when he was named the NFL comeback player of the year. John helped the Steelers eventual Super Bowl Champion San Fransico 49ers for their only loss of the season, and led the Steelers in a surprising play-off run that featured an upset win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional play-off at Mile High Stadium in Denver. The next week, the Steelers fell one game short of reaching the Super Bowl XIX by losing to the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship game.

In 1986, John Stallworth founded Madison Research Coporation (MRC). The company specialized in providing engineering and information technology services to government and commercial clients. Under Stallworth's leadership, MRC grew to more than 650 employees and $69.9 million in revenues. John Stallwoth was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, one year after his teammate Lynn Swann when he was inducted in 2001.

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