PITTSBURGH -- He leaped, he caught, he would contort and he came up big in the big game. On Saturday, Lynn Swann lands on pro football's most hallowed ground.

Swann was among seven to gain induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday in Canton, Ohio. He joined Nick Buoniconti, Marv Levy, Mike Munchak, Jackie Slater, Ron Yary and Jack Youngblood on the front steps of the Hall of Fame.

"It was 14 years on that list before I could stand here today and wear this gold jacket and say thank you and how much I appreciated your support over all those years," Swann said.

A large crowd of Steelers fans -- chanting, waving towels and holding up signs -- prompted Swann's fellow wide receiver, teammate and presenter John Stallworth to survey the people surrounding the hall and say, "It feels like Three Rivers Stadium in here."

Throughout his induction speech, Swann lobbied for Stallworth to be inducted into the Hall next year.

"If this is the greatest hour of my life, I tell you at this moment this is only a half hour," Swann said. "It will be the greatest hour when I can stand here in that back row and John Stallworth is wearing the gold jacket and giving this speech."

Critics point out that Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver, had average numbers during his regular season career. Supporters point out that he redefined the clutch catch.

Playing on a ball-control, defense-oriented team, Swann was the Steelers' gamebreaker.

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Swann Enters Hall

Swann becomes the 11th member of the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

He put his personal stamp on that run of championships when he was the MVP of the 1976 Super Bowl, catching four passes for 161 yards, including a 64-yarder for the game-winning touchdown.

For his career, he had 336 receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns.

Only Jerry Rice had more receiving yards and touchdowns in his Super Bowl career than Swann, but Swann is one of only two receivers inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame who never hit the 1,000-yard mark during the regular season.

However, as Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope pointed out, "When Rice made difficult catches, they were called 'Swann-like.'"

Swann also took time during his speech to congratulate another Pittsburgh sports hero who would be entering his respective Hall of Fame the next day.

"Before I sit down, I am going to send out one shout to a man who waited longer than I did to get into the Hall of Fame," Swann said. "A great Pittsburgher who's going to have a great moment Sunday. Bill Mazeroski is going into the Hall of Fame in baseball in Cooperstown.

"I know this is going to be the greatest sports weekend Pittsburgh has seen in a very long time, but it will not be the last. There is still more to come."