Steve Largent

1954-

American football player

Although his fourteen seasons with the Seattle Seahawks did not result in any National Football League (NFL) championships, Steve Largent retired as the holder of NFL records in receptions, yards, and

touchdowns. Often underestimated by his opponents, who thought that Largent was too small and slow to be an offensive threat, the wide receiver eventually gained recognition as a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. After retiring as a professional athlete in 1989, Largent returned to his native Oklahoma and opened an advertising agency while cultivating his contacts with the state's Republican Party leadership. In 1994 he won election to the U.S. Congress as the Representative of the First District of Oklahoma, a feat that made him one of just five former NFL players ever to have served in Congress. Reelected in 1996, 1998, and 2000, Largent resigned from office in late 2001 in order to enter Oklahoma's gubernatorial race in 2002. Although he held a wide lead in the polls throughout most of the race, Largent lost the election and said that he would return to the private sector.

Sooner Childhood

Steven Michael Largent was born on September 28, 1954 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Jim and Sue (Stewart) Largent. The couple separated when their son was about six years old and Sue Largent subsequently remarried. Largent's step-father, John Cargill, was an abusive alcoholic who sometimes became physically violent against his stepson. As Largent later told the New York Times in an interview included in a Campaigns and Elections profile, "I can remember crying myself to sleep many times, saying, 'My family will never be like this.'"

Largent took refuge from his turbulent home life in sports, particularly baseball and football. He lettered in both sports at Oklahoma City's Putnam City High School, where he graduated in 1972. Later that year he entered the University of Tulsa on a football scholarship. Even though Largent was somewhat smaller than the other players, at five-feet, eleven inches tall and about 190 pounds, he overcame the handicap and emerged as one of the school's best-ever football players. As a wide receiver he held the national records in touchdown receptions at the end of the 1974 and 1975 seasons, and in a 1974 game against Drake University Largent scored five touchdowns, tying his school's record for most touchdowns in a single game. Despite these accomplishments, Largent was not selected in the 1976 NFL draft until the fourth round, when he was chosen by the Houston Oilers. In a major setback to his NFL dreams, the Oilers dropped Largent after he had played in just four preseason games.

Seahawks Star

Largent was immediately picked up by the Seattle Seahawks, a new franchise with an assistant coach, Jerry Rhome, who had previously coached Largent at the University of Tulsa. Rhome helped to instill confidence in Largent, who made his NFL debut in a 1976 game against the St. Louis Cardinals with five receptions. Largent ended up being the Seahawks' most reliable receiver in his fourteen years with the team. Although his opponents typically dismissed him as slow and slight of stature, Largent ended up exceeding 1,000 yards in receptions in eight seasons between 1978 and 1986. Unfortunately, the Seahawks never claimed an NFL championship during Largent's years with the team, which ended in 1989.

Chronology

Perhaps Largent's finest moment came in a December 10, 1989 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he broke the existing record for touchdown receptions. Largent ended his career at the end of that season as the holder of the NFL records for most receptions (819), yards (13,089), and touchdowns (100). He also held the record for receptions in the most consecutive games (177) during his career, a title that was later claimed by Jerry Rice .

After retiring as a professional athlete, Largent moved back to Tulsa with his wife, the former Terry Bullock, whom he had married in January 1975. The Largents had four children—a daughter, Casie Lee, and three sons, Kyle, Kelly, and Kramer. Largent opened an advertising and marketing consulting firm in Tulsa after returning to the city, but he remained a popular sports personality in Seattle, where he often appeared at political fundraisers for Republican candidates. Largent also cultivated ties to the Republican Party in Oklahoma and in 1994 opened up his own campaign for the U.S. House seat from the First District. Running as a conservative in a heavily Republican state, Largent took the election with sixty-three percent of the vote.

Serves in Congress

Largent was reelected in 1996, 1998, and 2000. During his four terms in Congress, Largent followed a staunchly conservative platform against abortion rights and equal rights for homosexuals and in support of allowing prayer in public schools and granting government subsidies to private, religious schools. An advocate of the business community, Largent rarely voted for legislation endorsed by organized labor groups. In 1999 Largent attempted to ban same-sex couples from adopting children in the District of Columbia, a measure that was narrowly defeated. In 2000 he provoked criticism for suggesting that a Roman Catholic priest should not serve as the Congressional chaplin because it might make some members of Congress uncomfortable. Largent rejected the criticism as politically motivated.

In October 2001 Largent announced his resignation from his fourth term in Congress in order to run for the Oklahoma Governor's office in 2002. Although polls put Largent far ahead of his opponents, Democrat Brad Henry and independent Gary Richardson, a series of missteps plagued his campaign. A leading beneficiary of campaign contributions from Enron and Arthur Andersen, Largent became linked with the scandals that had rocked those companies. His critics noted that Largent had failed to author any major pieces of legislation and had failed to implement several measures that would have brought millions of dollars in federal money to Oklahoma, actions that suggested Largent was preoccupied with the national spotlight instead of serving his constituents. Largent's conservative image was also tarnished by the sixcount indictment in December 2001 of his daughter, a university student, on charges that included underage drinking, possession of false identification, and various traffic violations.

Career Statistics

In the final weeks of the race, when questioned about his ineffectual legislative record in Congress in a television interview, Largent responded with an expletive that shocked many viewers. It was the turning point in the campaign and Largent ended up losing the election by just 6,000 votes to Henry. Largent told USA Today, "The underdog won. That happens in life, that happens in athletics, and that happened in politics last night." Rejecting Governor-elect Henry's offer of a position with his administration, Largent announced that he would resume his career in business and did not foresee any future runs for public office.

Awards and Accomplishments

FURTHER INFORMATION

Periodicals

Babson, Jennifer, and Bob Benenson. "Steve Largent." Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report (January 7, 1995).

Benedetto, Richard. "State Senator Defeats Former Star of NFL." USA Today (November 7, 2002).

"Career Paths: How They Got Where They Are." Campaigns and Elections (October 2001).

Deitsch, Richard, and Kostya Kennedy. "Q&A: Steve Largent." Sports Illustrated (October 7, 2002).

"House Narrowly Approves Homosexual Adoption in D.C." Human Events (August 13, 1999).

Largent, Steve, and Jennifer Dunn. "U.S. Representatives Steve Largent and Jennifer Dunn Deliver Republican Response." FDCH Political Transcripts (January 19, 1999).

Ota, Alan K., and Stephen Gettinger. "Stephen Largent Seeks Return to Limelight." CQ Weekly (November 8, 1998).

Other

"Enron and Andersen: Contributions to Congressional Committees." Open Secrets Web site. http://www.opensecrets.org/news/enron/enron_hene.asp (December 3, 2002).

"State of Oklahoma v. Casie Lee Largent." Oklahoma State Courts Network Web site. http://www.oscn.net (December 3, 2002).

"Steve Largent." Football Reference Web site. http://www.football-reference.com/players/LargSt00.htm (December 4, 2002).

"Steve Largent." Seattle Seahawks Web site. http://www.seahawks.com/ardisplay.aspx?ID=1402 (December 2, 2002).

"Steve Largent Biography." Pro Football Hall of Fame Web site. http://www.profootballhof.com/players/mainpage.cfm?cont_id=99969 (December 4, 2002).

"Steve Largent: Top Contributors." Open Secrets Web site. http://www.opensecrets.org/1998os/contrib/N00005597.htm (December 3, 2002).

Van Viema, David. "Catholic Bashing?" CNN Web site. http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/2000/02/28/catholic.html (February 28, 2000).

Sketch by Timothy Borden