Steve Largent Steven Michael " Steve " Largent ( born September 28 , 1954 ) is a retired American football player , enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame , and a former U . S . Congressman , having served in the U . S . House of Representatives for Oklahoma from 1994 until 2002 . He was defeated in his run for Governor of Oklahoma in 2002 in a three - way race in which he had been considered the frontrunner . Prior to his political career , Largent was a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League for his entire 14 - season professional football career , holding several all - time receiving records when he retired . Football career . In 1974 at Tulsa , he had 884 yards receiving and 14 TD catches . In 1975 , he had 51 catches for 1 , 000 yards and 14 TD catches . Despite an All - American career at the University of Tulsa , Largent was not selected until the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers ( 117th pick ) . After four preseason games , he was slated to be cut , but was instead traded to the expansion Seattle Seahawks for a 1977 eighth - round pick . Largent spent thirteen years with the Seahawks , and , while not particularly fast , was extremely sure - handed . He was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl seven times , and was the first Seahawk to earn that honor . In 1982 , Largent , along with teammate Jim Zorn , ended his participation in the NFL strike , after the third and final week of the strike , citing religious principles , specifically based on Matthew 5 : 36 – 37 , stating that " your word is your bond " and that all contracts shall be honored as with God . In 1989 , Steve 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 ) , although 15 of the catches , 261 of the yards , and 3 of the touchdowns came against replacement players . He was also in possession of 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 achieve 100 touchdown receptions in his career . Largent was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 . In 1999 , he was ranked number 46 on " The Sporting News " ' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players , the only Seahawk on the list . His number ( 80 ) was retired in 1992 ; Largent is the first Seahawk player to be so honored ( the team has retired number 12 in honor of the fans , the " twelfth man " , the number 71 for offensive tackle Walter Jones , on December 5 , 2010 , and the number 96 for defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy on October 14 , 2012 . ) During Jerry Rice ' s stint with the Seahawks in 2004 , Largent ' s number 80 was temporarily " unretired " after a conversation between Rice and Largent that was reportedly initiated by then Seahawks president Bob Whitsitt . Largent remains the most prolific receiver in team history . On October 26 , 2008 Largent ' s University of Tulsa number ( 83 ) was also retired . Political career . In 1994 , Oklahoma ' s 1st District Congressman Jim Inhofe resigned to run in a special election to succeed Senator David Boren . Largent won the election to succeed Inhofe in Congress ; pursuant to an Oklahoma statute , Governor David Walters appointed Largent to serve the remainder of Inhofe ' s term in the 103rd Congress before beginning his term in the 104th Congress . Largent took office on November 29 , 1994 and was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses , never winning less than 60 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican Tulsa - based district . Like many in the Republican freshmen class elected in 1994 , when the Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 40 years , Largent ' s voting record was solidly conservative . Largent was one of the " true believers " in that freshman class , devoting most of his time to issues important to the conservative Christians . One of his first bills was a " parental rights " bill that died in committee after it attracted opposition even from other Christian conservatives . Another of his bills would have abolished the federal tax code at the end of 2001 . He opposed ending the 1995 federal government shutdown and played a role in the failed attempt to oust Newt Gingrich as Speaker . Largent introduced a bill that would ban adoptions by gay and lesbian parents in Washington , D . C . He was criticized as anti - Catholic due to his line of questioning of a House of Representatives chaplain in 2000 , though he denied this . After the Republicans lost 5 seats in the 1998 midterm elections , Largent tried to take advantage of discontent with Majority Leader Dick Armey by challenging Armey for the post . Although Armey was not popular in the Republican caucus , Largent was thought to be far too conservative for the liking of some moderate Republicans , and Armey won on the third ballot . However , when Bob Livingston of Louisiana stood down as Speaker - elect , Armey was still too wounded to make a bid for the job . Largent decided to run for Governor of Oklahoma in 2002 . He easily won the Republican nomination and resigned his House seat on February 15 to devote his energy to the race . Initially seen as an overwhelming favorite against Democratic state senator Brad Henry , Largent lost to Henry by just under 7 , 000 votes . Largent ' s loss has been attributed by analysts to factors that included : " People " magazine named Largent to its 1996 list of " Most Beautiful People " . Largent became President & CEO of CTIA - The Wireless Association in 2003 . CTIA is an international nonprofit membership organization founded in 1984 , representing all sectors of wireless communications : cellular , personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio .