Steve Largent transformed from an NFL castoff to a Hall of Fame legend, establishing himself as the gold standard for wide receivers before Jerry Rice redefined the position. Born on September 28, 1954, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Largent attended Putnam City High School in Warr Acres before starring at the University of Tulsa, where he studied biology. In 1974, he recorded 884 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, followed by 51 catches for 1,000 yards and 14 scores in 1975, earning second-team All-American honors.
Despite his All-American credentials, the 5-foot-11, 187-pound Largent fell to the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft, selected 117th overall by the Houston Oilers. After four preseason games, coach Bum Phillips informed him he would be cut. However, his college offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome, now with the expansion Seattle Seahawks, convinced head coach Jack Patera to trade a 1977 eighth-round pick for Largent—one of the greatest steals in NFL history. Largent spent his entire ...
