The NFL’s ultimate Super Bowl dynasty in the 1970s was the Pittsburgh Steelers. The dynastic NFL team of the 1980s was the San Francisco 49ers. A USC Trojan figured prominently on each team. What Lynn Swann did in Pittsburgh, Ronnie Lott did in San Francisco. These two USC icons won four Super Bowls each on teams of the decade in NFL history.
The parallels between Lynn Swann with the Steelers and Ronnie Lott with the 49ers are striking. They both won three Super Bowls played in the same years of their respective decades: Swann in the 1974, 1978, and 1979 seasons, Lott in the 1984, 1988, and 1989 seasons. They both won back-to-back Super Bowls to complete their dynastic runs of four Super Bowls in a decade.
This year, the San Francisco 49ers — though not actually playing in the game — are the hosts for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. San Francisco Bay Area sports fans are acutely disappointed not only that their Niners aren’t in the game, but that rival Seattle owns the stage against the New England Patriots. The Niners not playing this Sunday reinforces the long championship drought endured by one of the NFL’s glamour franchises. San Francisco hasn’t won a Lombardi Trophy since the 1994 season and January of 1995, back in Super Bowl XXXIX against the San Diego Chargers. You can do the math: It has been over 30 years since the 49ers brought home the NFL championship.
This drought magnifies what Ronnie Lott achieved with the 49ers. He has won four of the organization’s five Super Bowl titles. What makes Lott extra special is that he won as a rookie in the 1981 season. His impact was instant and dramatic. The more time passes, the harder it is to deny Ronnie Lott his place as one of the NFL’s all-time greats. Seriously: If there was a top-50 list of NFL players, it’s hard to exclude Lott from that list.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: As 49ers host Super Bowl LX, Ronnie Lott’s legacy grows
Reporting by Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
