Steelers' Lynn Swann Detailed Violent Hit From Raiders' George Atkinson: "There Was A Grudge Match And A Deep Dislike"

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders had one of the league's most intense rivalries in the 1970s. This isn't surprising if you consider the two teams' composition; both had hard-hitting defenses and insanely loyal fans. In addition, both teams struggled in the early years of their inception and felt they had something to prove. 

The Raiders got off to a faster start than the Steelers, but they kept coming up short of the big win. After losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II, they fell one game short over the next few seasons. The Steelers' fate seemed to be changing, and in 1972, they made the playoffs, and then Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception happened. 

Raiders fans were outraged; to this day, most insist the ball hit the ground; it is their version of "Jesse James caught that ball." That only further served to fans the flames of dislike between the two teams. 

Football was different in the 1970s. It was far more physical than today, and players were allowed to hit players with tackles that are now against the NFL's rules. That, along with the fact that the Steelers kept getting in the way of the Raiders' shot at hoisting a Lombardi, created a lot of animosity. 

That's why it isn't surprising that the Raiders' safety, George Atkinson, laid out Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann during the 1975 AFC Championship. Recently, Swann joined Peyton Manning on his show Peyton's Place to discuss the ferocity of that rivalry. 

"You can't think about it. The game is physical, and we knew there was a grudge match and a deep dislike for the Raiders, well, and the Steelers. You knew we'd be physical, and you knew guys would take shots. You have to block it out. If you let it stay in your head and the forefront of your mind when you're out there playing football, you're never going to play your game, and they're still going to hit you, right?"

Atkinson had a reputation in the league for being a "dirty player." The commentators during that game even remarked that the Raiders were out there "headhunting" when Swann got hit. Swann was struck in the head by Atkinson, who punched him, knocking him unconscious. Defensive tackle Joe Greene came over and carried him off the field. 

They rushed the second-year receiver to the hospital with a severe concussion. But the Steelers went on to beat the Raiders, 16-10. That earned them the right to attend their second Super Bowl, where they defeated the Dallas Cowboys 17-21.

Perhaps Swann got the last laugh on Atkinson that season. After spending two days in the hospital, he was released and played in Super Bowl X, where he had four catches for 161 yards. Swann was named MVP of that game in part for his insanely acrobatic catch on the sideline, where he managed to leap up and twist his body back in bounds.     

Steelers' Lynn Swann Had A Secret Weapon

Swann was well known and feared throughout the league for his seemingly magical ability to float through the air and make catches no one else could. These catches didn't just occur in Super Bowl X; they occurred in almost every game. Swann told Manning that he had done something differently, taken ballet. 

In today's NFL, players undergo all kinds of training. It isn't just weight lifting, hitting the sleds or practicing tackling. They work on agility, speed and flexibility. Back in the 1970s, that kind of training was uncommon. Swann found what he needed in ballet. He told Manning that all of those acrobatic catches are based on the fundamental ballet move of the plié.  

The plié is a move in which the dancer bends their knees with their feet firmly planted, straightens back out, and often uses their heels to propel themselves upward. Swann used this move to get above the heads of his opponents. Now, 50 years later, there is still magic in watching Swann complete gravity-defying leaps that would still be amazing in today's NFL.   

Do you remember Atkinson and his hit on Swann? Was he a dirty player? Click to comment below. 

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