Best WR in franchise history - Analysis

[Whatever]

(06-21-2022, 09:55 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: Lynn Swan is interesting. I was under the impression that he made the Hall based off of his postseason performances and overall team success. Even era adjusting his individual statistics, they aren't anything particularly impressive. Here is Lynn Swans entire career with his metrics adjusted to 2021 levels...

1974 - 14 catches, 84 yards, 2 TDs.
1975 - 85 catches, 1068 yards, 12 TDs
1976 - 51 catches, 732 yards, 3 TDs
1977 - 100 catches, 1231 yards, 9 TDs
1978 - 107 catches, 1076 yards, 12 TDs
1979 - 65 catches, 1015 yards, 6 TDs
1980 - 71 catches, 928 yards, 9 TDs
1981 - 50 catches, 537 yards, 6 TDs
1982 - 64 catches, 705 yards, zero TDs (he was injured this season)

One thing that stands out is his consistency in scoring TDs. I'm really not sure who to compare this kind of production to. The immediate comparison that stands out is Julian Edelman; a WR who wasn't a superstar but was good and known specifically for his postseason performances. Our own T.J. Houshmandzadeh stands out as well, he had similar lines posted in the mid-2000s. Marvin Jones. 

All of this to say, Lynn wasn't known for his impressive numbers that he put up in the regular season. He was known for winning four Super Bowl rings, being MVP in one of them, his famous catch and overall playoff performances. That's why I bring up Edelman, there are folks arguing about Julian for the HoF based on his postseason production. 

From what I was told from a long time Steelers fan, Swann is basically in because he showed up big in nationally televised games.  Those were rare back in the day and fans didn't get to see players very often and he kind of fooled people into thinking he was better than he really was by coming up big in those games with a national audience.