John Stallworth Johnny Lee Stallworth ( born July 15 , 1952 , in Tuscaloosa , Alabama ) is a former American football wide receiver who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers . He played college football at Alabama A & M , and was the Steelers ' fourth - round draft pick in 1974 . Stallworth played in six AFC championships , and went to four Super Bowl s . His career statistics included 537 receptions for 8 , 723 yards and 63 TDs . His receptions were a franchise record until that record was surpassed by Hines Ward in 2005 . Stallworth played in four Pro Bowls and was the Steelers ' two - time MVP . College career . A native of Tuscaloosa , Alabama , Stallworth was an All - Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference receiver for Alabama A & M in 1972 and 1973 . Stallworth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Alabama A & M University . Professional ball . Stallworth was the 82nd player taken in 1973 . After a rookie year as an understudy , he became a starter in his second season and held that job for the rest of his 165 - game career . Stallworth did battle a series of fibula , foot , ankle , knee and hamstring injuries that forced him to miss 44 regular - season games . Super Bowls . In Super Bowl XIII , he caught a record - tying 75 - yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw that would later be a crucial touchdown in a 35 - 31 Steelers win over the Dallas Cowboys . He suffered leg cramps later and played sparingly in the second half , finishing with 3 receptions for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns One year later at Super Bowl XIV with the Steelers trailing the Los Angeles Rams 19 - 17 early in the fourth quarter , Steelers ' coach Chuck Noll called for " 60 - Prevent - Slot - Hook - And - Go , " a play the Steelers failed in practice prior to the big game . With 12 minutes remaining , Bradshaw dropped back and threw it long to Stallworth , who caught it and beat Rod Perry to the end zone for a 73 - yard touchdown that would pave the way for the Steelers ' 31 - 19 win and their fourth world championship . Sports Illustrated considered the catch notable enough to put Stallworth on the cover of a subsequent issue . Overall , Stallworth recorded 3 receptions for 121 yards in the game . Stallworth holds the Super Bowl records for career average per catch ( 24 . 4 yards ) and single - game average , 40 . 33 yards in Super Bowl XIV . He had 12 touchdown receptions and a string of 17 straight games with a reception in post - season play . Stallworth also scored touchdowns in eight straight playoff games at one point ( 1978 – 1983 ) , an NFL record . Other highlights . He led the AFC with a career - high 1 , 395 yards gained on 80 receptions in 1984 , when he was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year . He helped the Steelers defeat eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco for that team ' s only loss of the season , and led the Steelers in a playoff run that featured an upset win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Playoffs at Denver ' s Mile High Stadium . Stallworth was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2002 . Business career . In 1986 he founded Madison Research Corporation ( MRC ) , which specializes in providing engineering and information technology services to government and commercial clients . Under Stallworth ' s leadership , MRC grew to more than 650 employees and $ 69 . 5 million in revenues ( FY03 ) . MRC manages six regional offices : Huntsville , Alabama ( headquarters ) ; Warner Robins , Georgia ; Orlando , Florida and Shalimar , Florida ; Montgomery , Alabama ; Houston , Texas ; and Dayton , Ohio . In October 2006 the sale of MRC to Wireless Facilities Inc . was completed , and at that time it was announced that Stallworth would pursue other interests . Stallworth was announced as becoming part - owner of his former team on March 23 , 2009 , as part of the Rooney family restructuring ownership of the team .