Career of Hall of Famer Steve Largent

When asked to name the greatest wide receivers in NFL history most fans will answer with Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Michael Irwin or even Lance Alworth (although he played primarily in the AFL). Very few, if any, answer Steve Largent, which is a shame because he may have been the greatest of them all. Steve Largent set the standard for all receivers in the NFL.

To look at Steve Largent you could almost understand why most fans forget about him. He was less than 6 feet tall and weighed just 180 pounds and had just average speed. This is probably why the Houston Oilers traded him to the Seattle Seahawks after drafting him out of the University of Tulsa in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft. Well, the Oilers' loss was the Seahawks' gain as he would go on to have a Hall of Fame career.

The Seahawks could afford to take a chance on Steve Largent in 1976; after all, they were an expansion team with very few expectations. Largent would go on to play 13 seasons with the Seahawks and is easily considered the best player in franchise history.

In his rookie season in Seattle Largent caught 54 passes; he would go on to catch a total of 819 in his career which was the most by any receiver in league history upon his retirement. After his retirement following the 1989 season, Largent held the NFL record for most catches, most receiving yards (13,089), most receiving touchdowns (100), most seasons with 50 or more catches (10) including six seasons of 70 or more catches and most seasons with 1000 or more receiving yards (8). Twice he led the league in receiving yards (1979 and 1985). He also set the record for most consecutive games with at least one reception with 177. Though he no longer is the leader in NFL history in these categories he set the standard for which all receivers are now compared.

Steve Largent was also a very durable player missing just four games during his 13 year career. He was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl seven times in his career and was an all-pro three times. He is still the Seahawks all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns and is the only player in franchise history to have his number retired - number 80. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 his first year of eligibility.