Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and the 30 best HBCU football players of all time
By Dante Pryor
12. John Stallworth, wide receiver, Alabama A&M
One of the most exciting stories about John Stallworth is how he ended up in Pittsburgh. Famed HBCU scout and newspaper columnist Bill Nunn got to Alabama A&M before the rest of the scouts for the coach’s film of Stallworth.
Nunn promised that he would share the coach’s tape with the other scouts, many from AFL. However, Nunn never shared the videos and convinced Chuck Knoll and Art Rooney to draft Stallworth.
Stallworth’s journey to the NFL is as fascinating as how Nunn got him drafted by the Steelers. A Tuscaloosa native, Stallworth was a running back on a high school team that won just one game his senior year. Though Stallworth aspired to play for his native Crimson Tide, Paul Bryant did not recruit him.
Stallworth did receive a scholarship to play for Alabama A&M. While at A&M, Stallworth convinced coaches to try him out at wide receiver. That turned out to be quite the decision. Stallworth became Alabama A&M’s all-time and single-game leader in receptions.
Pittsburgh drafted Stallworth in the fourth round of the 1974 NFL Draft. During his 14 years with the Steelers, Stallworth proved one of the most excellent playoff receivers in NFL history. Stallworth has the highest single-game (40.4) and career average (24.4) per reception in playoff history.
Stallworth also caught the game-winning pass in Super Bowl XIII against the Dallas Cowboys and the go-ahead touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.