Steve Largent
As a high school sophomore, Steve Largent first attended an FCA meeting in order to escape his tumultuous home life. That led him to a revival service with some football teammates where he accepted Christ. From there, he became active in FCA throughout college and continued to be an advocate for the organization during and after his NFL career.
Following an All-State senior season at Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., Largent went to the University of Tulsa where he earned All-American honors in 1975 with 51 catches for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. Selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, Largent was traded from Houston to Seattle where he spent his entire 14-year professional career.
Largent was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, AP First-Team All-Pro selection (1985) and four-time AP Second-Team All-Pro selection (1978, 1979, 1984 and 1987). He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and, in 1988, was named Walter Payton Man of the Year and recipient of the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award. Largent finished his career with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards, and 100 touchdowns, all NFL records at the time of his retirement. He also held the record for most consecutive regular season games with a reception (177).
In 1989, Largent became the first recipient of the Steve Largent Award, which the Seahawks instituted to annually honor a team contributor who best exemplified spirit, dedication, and integrity. In 1992, Largent became the first Seahawk to have his number (80) retired. In 1995, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and in 2008, his number at the University of Tulsa (83) was also retired.
After football, Largent spent eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives for his home state of Oklahoma. He has also been active with many charitable and non-profit organizations such as United Way, Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, United Cerebral Palsy, and March of Dimes.
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