Swagged-Out Athletes of the '70s and '80s
There’s something endlessly fascinating about the '70s and, particularly, the '80s. So many of us were actually born in the '80s, yet it still seems like a decade inserted into human history by aliens.
Between 1970 and 1989, so much changed in the world that it’s almost unrecognizable by today’s standards. Even though sports themselves haven’t been altered substantially, the men who play them professionally have.
Which is why looking back at photos from the era is so entertaining. Here are 50 photos of the swagged-out athletes of the '70s and '80s.
50.
1 of 50
Date: January 1978
Pictured: Ed “Too Tall” Jones & Tom Henderson, Dallas Cowboys
The one-time Cowboys teammates get in the chill zone together at their New Orleans hotel. Three days later they would face—and defeat—the Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
49.
2 of 50
Date: January 1974
Pictured: Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier, Boxers
There’s no love in Frazier's eyes, who greets Ali with a chilly handshake after he was defeated in a 12-round heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden the night prior.
48.
3 of 50
Date: July 1980
Pictured: Phil Simms, New York Giants
Seeing Phil Simms as anything other than the pale, bland commentating blob we know him as today is pretty jarring. It's almost as if this guy used to be human. Almost.
47.
4 of 50
Date: December 1981
Pictured: Jim McMahon, Brigham Young & Marcus Allen, Southern California
McMahon and Allen are pictured together at the Pigskin Club, in D.C., alongside the chairman of the awards committee, James Carter. They were both invited as leading Heisman candidates that year—Marcus would go on to win the trophy.
46.
5 of 50
Date: March 1982
Pictured: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
The Great One geeking out with actor Jamie Farr, who played Klinger on M*A*S*H.
45.
6 of 50
Date: April 1974
Pictured: Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers
The former Steeler is looking fine in a velvet blazer at Three Rivers Stadium, signing with the team after being drafted.
44.
7 of 50
Date: January 1988
Pictured: Bruce Jenner, Olympian
Jenner is pictured back in the day when cigarette companies still sponsored athletes, apparently. (Not to mention prior to that horrific plastic surgery)
43.
8 of 50
Date: December 1973
Pictured: Ed Jones, Tennessee State & Walter Payton, Mississippi State
Jones and Payton pose near trophies awarded them after being named All-Americans. No clowning around here—these guys look serious as a heart attack.
42.
9 of 50
Date: October 1973
Pictured: Ken Stabler, Oakland Raiders
Former Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler rocking the hell out of a team jumpsuit while reading over some fan mail.
41.
10 of 50
Date: July 1981
Pictured: Sugar Ray Leonard & Thomas Hearns, Boxers
Leonard and Hearns are pictured after announcing their bout for the undisputed welterweight championship. The fight was billed as “The Showdown.”
40.
11 of 50
Date: April 1980
Pictured: Anthony Munoz & Brad Budde, Southern California
The former USC teammates congratulate each other after each being selected in the first round of the draft. Munoz went to the Bengals, Budde to the Chiefs.
39.
12 of 50
Date: February 1976
Pictured: Dock Ellis & Willie Randolph, New York Yankees
Ellis and Randolph have some fun outside Shea Stadium after both signed with the Yanks.
38.
13 of 50
Date: January 1980
Pictured: Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw & Gerry Mullins, Pittsburgh Steelers
If you want to make an argument against the Steelers being the greatest team of the 70s, I’ll listen, but I won’t agree. If you want to argue against them being the swaggiest team of the 70s, I won’t even listen.
37.
14 of 50
Date: January 1986
Pictured: Jim McMahon, Chicago Bears
Jim McMahon does his Jim McMahon thing during a taping of Late Night with David Letterman. Dude had a headband for every occasion.
36.
15 of 50
Date: December 1984
Pictured: O.J. Simpson (Retired) & Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams
Just a couple of Hall of Fame running backs clowning around. Dickerson looks like a cool guy with swag to spare. Unfortunately Juice just looks like a double murderer.
35.
16 of 50
Date: August 1974
Pictured: Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, Philadelphia Flyers
Schultz is seen pouting at a Superstars tournament in Florida—he lost his oar during the rowing event and had to be towed back to shore.
34.
17 of 50
Date: November 1983
Pictured: Marvin Hagler, Boxer
You didn’t think Floyd Mayweather was the only boxer with style, did you? In his prime, Marvelous Marvin would give Mayweather a run for his 'Money' in the swagg department.
33.
18 of 50
Date: August 1989
Pictured: Kevin Greene, Los Angeles Rams
Former NFL linebacker Kevin Greene gets handsy with photographers outside Tokyo’s International Airport. The Rams were in town for an exhibition game against the 49ers. It's a shame he didn't leave those pants—and that hairdo—back in LA.
32.
19 of 50
Date: April 1975
Pictured: Bobby Clarke & Wayne Stephenson, Philadelphia Flyers
They didn’t call these boys the Broad Street Bullies for nothing. Looks like all that brawling on the ice left Clarke short a few teeth.
31.
20 of 50
Date: January 1986
Pictured: Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams & Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
These two didn't let the fact that they were set to face off in the conference championship game on Sunday stop them from sharing a few laughs at a press conference on Friday.
30.
21 of 50
Date: June 1982
Pictured: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
Hall of Fame Laker point guard Magic Johnson poses with coach Pat Riley after winning the NBA Championship. Magic’s arm is resting on his MVP trophy—his second in three years—and his ass is resting on his brand new Corvette.
29.
22 of 50
Date: July 1986
Pictured: Tony Dorsett & Tony Hill, Dallas Cowboys
Those totally 80s tracksuits are a study in contrast. You’ve got Dorsett rocking a timeless Adidas number, while his teammate’s was probably out of style by the time this photo was developed.
28.
23 of 50
Date: June 1989
Pictured: Phil Mickelson, Arizona State & Julius Erving, Retired
Good gravy! Dr. J looks as amazing as ever in this photo, but Phil Mickelson is the real story. Since when do colleges admit 12-year-olds?
27.
24 of 50
Date: September 1984
Pictured: Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals
It’s safe to say that the former Bengals quarterback has never looked weirder than he does in this photo.
26.
25 of 50
Date: September 1970
Pictured: Phil Jackson, New York Knicks
Before he became one of the greatest coaches in sports history, Phil Jackson was one of the most awkward, lanky white guys in NBA history. That mustache though? Perfection.
25.
26 of 50
Date: February 1986
Pictured: Jim McMahon, Chicago Bears
One of the more colorful characters we’ve ever seen in the NFL, former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon is pictured with Hugh Hefner outside the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills.
24.
27 of 50
Date: June 1985
Pictured: Wayman Tisdale (Oklahoma), Patrick Ewing (Georgetown), Chris Mullin (St. John’s)
All three were in New York for a pre-NBA Draft news conference—Mullin was kind enough to wear his finest button-up…t-shirt
23.
28 of 50
Date: March 1975
Pictured: Muhammad Ali, Boxer
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali dons his training boots—along with one of the sweetest pair of plaid pants I’ve ever seen—one day after defeating Chuck Wepner in Cleveland. The headline in the paper is clearly visible, and not by accident.
22.
29 of 50
Date: November 1980
Pictured: Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia Eagles
Jaws is looking clutch with that full beard.
21.
30 of 50
Date: November 1988
Pictured: Randall Cunningham, Mike Quick & Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles
For some reason, these three got together to record a “rap music video” with eight teammates. Apparently, the chorus begins "Buddy’s watching you," a reference to their coach Buddy Ryan. Not exactly a timeless classic.
20.
31 of 50
Date: September 1979
Pictured: Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox
The beloved Boston hero is pictured here talking with his son, Carl Jr., in the visitors club house at Yankee Stadium.
19.
32 of 50
Date: November 1972
Pictured: Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
"WOW!" is likely the word you’re currently searching for. Wow…wow…wow…and a lot more wow.
18.
33 of 50
Date: July 1975
Pictured: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
Talk about a cool customer. Kareem in the 70s was nothing short of epic.
17.
34 of 50
Date: January 1987
Pictured: John Elway, Denver Broncos
Gold star to anyone who guessed Elway was on his way to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl in this photo. That explains his outfit, but offers no insight into why his wife, Janet, is wearing a tent.
16.
35 of 50
Date: August 1974
Pictured: Moses Malone, NBA
A dapper Moses Malone is pictured here taking media questions after becoming the very first basketball player to go directly from high school into the NBA.
15.
36 of 50
Date: January 1972
Pictured: Larry Csonka & Jim Kiick, Miami Dolphins
Former Dolphins teammates screw around with toy pistols outside their hotel in New Orleans. Csonka and Kiick were in town ahead of the Super Bowl.
14.
37 of 50
Date: April 1974
Pictured: Julius Erving, New York Nets
This is, quite simply, one of the greatest locker room photos of all time. Dr. J is just working it from head-to-toe. The afro, the gold medallion, the turtleneck-sweater combo and the wicked plaid pants are just too amazing for words. Add to that the Harlem Globetrotters basketball spin and it’s like the first time I heard the Beatles.
13.
38 of 50
Date: February 1974
Pictured: Joe Namath, New York Jets
In the last year of his contract with the Jets, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath lounges on a bed at the swanky Plaza Hotel. The photo-op had to do with an endorsement deal for a line of women’s bed and bath fashions.
12.
39 of 50
Date: September 1981
Pictured: Sugar Ray Leonard, Boxer
No disrespect to Sugar Ray, but the only people who should ever dress like sea captains are actual sea captains. He looks straight-up insane in this getup.
11.
40 of 50
Date: April 1979
Pictured: Lee Corso, Indiana University
ESPN’s Lee Corso has been old for so long, it’s hard to imagine he was ever…not old. Corso actually played college ball at Florida State back in the mid 50s and then went on to coach. This photo was taken about five years before he retired from football and made his move to broadcasting.
10.
41 of 50
Date: April 1975
Pictured: Walt “Clyde” Frazier, New York Knicks
Check out Clyde giving a disapproving stink eye to the inconsiderate mook who decided it was appropriate to grab someone else’s mink coat and rub it against his ample chins.
9.
42 of 50
Date: February 1987
Pictured: Keith Hernandez, New York Mets & Phil McConkey, New York Giants
For some unknown reason, these former major leaguers both appeared on the Dr. Ruth Westheimer show together. What I wouldn’t give for a clip of that spectacle.
8.
43 of 50
Date: January 1987
Pictured: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
Exposed chest hair? Check! Popped collar? Check! Gold chain? Check! Cigar? Check!
Giants linebacker LT checked every important box in this photo, taken not long after the team arrived in California for the Super Bowl.
7.
44 of 50
Date: February 1981
Pictured: Richard Petty, NASCAR
There are few people in the entire length of human history who can hold a candle to Richard Petty's cool.
6.
45 of 50
Date: January 1977
Pictured: Tony Dorsett, University of Pittsburgh
Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett turns the idea of business casual on its ear with a dynamite denim suit still echoing through the ages.
5.
46 of 50
Date: July 1970
Pictured: Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Hall of Fame Steelers quarterback receives a rubdown from the head trainer at the team’s rookie camp. Hopefully, he enjoyed that youthful glow while it lasted.
4.
47 of 50
Date: January 1979
Pictured: Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
Here we have Bradshaw again—only nine years later. This photo was taken at the Orange Bowl in Miami, one day before the Steelers beat the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. That is one confident man right there.
3.
48 of 50
Date: January 1977
Pictured: Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier & Muhammad Ali, Boxers
The AP's caption for this photo says, “No other information available.” No other information needed.
2.
49 of 50
Date: May 1977
Pictured: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
The Hall of Fame Bruin absolutely epitomizes the 70s in a brown leisure suit and Bee Gees-inspired shag.
1.
50 of 50
Date: April 1989
Pictured: Deion Sanders, Atlanta Falcons
As you can see, Hall of Fame cornerback “Neon" Deion Sanders came into the NFL with as much—if not more—swag than he ultimately left with. He was wearing approximately 30 pounds of gold on draft day.
.jpg?w=480 "Rams Seahawks Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Thibodeaux, Diggs Top Landing Spots 🛬")
.jpg?w=600 "Steve Smith Sr.'s Cryptic Post 🤨")