Steve Largent

Lore & Background

Largent played college football at Tulsa University, where he studied biology, and began his NFL career with the expansion Seahawks in 1976. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pros while twice leading the league in receiving yards. At the time of his retirement, he held all major NFL receiving records. Largent was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his playing career, Largent was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and served four terms, winning over 60% of the vote in each election. He resigned from his seat in 2002 to run for governor of Oklahoma, which he narrowly lost to Democratic state senator Brad Henry.

Reader's Guide

Largent spent his entire 14-year career with the Seahawks. While not particularly fast, he was extremely sure-handed and able to get open due to his precise route-running. Between 1976 and 1981, he and quarterback Jim Zorn had more completions and yardage than any other pair in the league. He became the first Seahawk selected to the Pro Bowl, in 1978, and was selected six more times during his career.

In 1979 he led the league in receiving yards with 1,237, and six years later did it again with 1,287 in 1985. His 1985 receiving yardage was a Seahawks franchise record that stood for 35 years until broken by DK Metcalf in 2020. In 1987, Largent returned to play in a game against the Detroit Lions just before the end of the National Football League Players Association strike. Facing replacement players, he amassed 15 catches for 261 yards and three touchdowns.

With the retirement of Charlie Joiner the previous year, Largent became the NFL's active leader in career receiving yards, retaining that lead until his retirement in 1989. He broke Joiner's all-time record for receiving yards (12,146) in week 3 of 1988. In the same season, he was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion and two cracked teeth when he was hit in the head with a forearm by Mike Harden of the Denver Broncos; Harden was fined $5000 by the league.

Fourteen weeks later, in a rematch, Harden intercepted Dave Krieg's pass in the end zone, but Largent raced over and inflicted a blindside hit that caused Harden to fall to the ground and fumble the ball, which Largent then recovered; the play was negated by a defensive penalty, but Largent had gotten his revenge. In 1989, Largent became the first Seahawks player to win the Steve Largent Award for his spirit, dedication, and integrity. When Largent retired, he held all major NFL receiving records, including most receptions in a career (819), most receiving yards in a career (13,089), and most touchdown receptions (100).

He also had a then-record streak of 177 consecutive regular-season games with a reception. He also holds the distinction as the first receiver in NFL history to grab 100 touchdown receptions in his career; his record stood until 1992 when it was broken by Jerry Rice. Largent was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, his first year of eligibility.