NFL Great Lynn Swann Talking Some Trash

Native Tennessean & NFL Great, Lynn Swann, Loses Bid For Governor

Born on March 7, 1952 in Alcoa, Tennessee, Lynn Swann has achieved much success in his lifetime. From being team captain, MVP, and All-American at USC, to being the #1 NFL draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974, where he played for 8 season, and then spent 29 years with ABC Sports as a sports analyst and broadcaster before retiring in 2006. Swann decided to go into politics in his adopted state of Pennsylvania and made a run for the governor’s office. Unfortunately, Swann was defeated by Democratic governor Ed Rendell, only receiving 40% of the votes.

Why am I writing about Lynn Swann on the Tennessee Trash Blog? Well, after following the news coverage surrounding Mr. Swann’s governor’s race, I ran across an article that mentioned his hatred toward litter. Read the following excerpt below:

“Swann delivers his standard stump speech to the Slatington fire hall audience as if giving it for the first time. A 28-year TV broadcaster, he is engaging and energetic, and the locals respond to most of his talking points with applause. But they begin to sag when his lengthy explanation of property tax reform dulls some of his celebrity sheen.

He makes a comeback when 8-year-old Emily Rutter asks about litter on the local roads. Swann weaves a tale about his decision to seek office because he, too, was upset about trash in the streets.

“I'm the guy who steps up and puts that trash in the basket,” he says. “I'm the guy who sees what needs to be done and gets it done.”

He uses that point to describe how his family rose above humble origins, how the ballet and tap lessons his mother forced on him gave him the skills to make the graceful catches as MVP of Super Bowl X.

He says he left a lucrative broadcasting career for the uncertainty of politics because of a lack of leadership in the state. “We have too many professional politicians looking to promote their own careers instead of helping the people.”

Even though Lynn Swann no longer lives in Tennessee, it’s nice to see that he shares some of the same viewpoints of this fellow Tennessean. Maybe he would like to return to his home state and make a run for the next Tennessee Governors race!