Largent played college football at Tulsa University, where he studied biology, and began his NFL career with the expansion Seahawks in 1976.

He resigned from his seat in 2002 to run for governor of Oklahoma, which he narrowly lost to Democratic state senator Brad Henry.

Despite an All-American career at Tulsa, Largent was not selected until the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers with the 117th pick.

[6] However, his college offensive coordinator, Jerry Rhome, was now the quarterbacks and receivers coach of the expansion Seattle Seahawks.

[7] Rhome convinced head coach Jack Patera to trade a 1977 eighth-round draft pick for Largent.

[12] In 1987, Largent returned to play in a game against the Detroit Lions just before the end of the National Football League Players Association strike.

This also allowed him to quickly adjust from catching balls thrown by left-handed Jim Zorn to right-handed Dave Krieg.

He also holds the distinction as the first receiver in NFL history to grab 100 touchdown receptions in his career; his record stood until 1992 when it was broken by Jerry Rice.

[18] In 1994, Oklahoma's 1st District Congressman Jim Inhofe resigned to run in a special election to succeed Senator David Boren.

[19][20] Largent took office on November 29, 1994, and was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses, never winning less than 60 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican Tulsa-based district.

Largent was one of the "true believers" in that freshman class, devoting most of his time to issues important to conservative Christians.

He opposed ending the 1995 federal government shutdown and played a role in the failed attempt to oust Newt Gingrich as Speaker.

Initially seen as an overwhelming favorite against Democratic state senator Brad Henry, Largent lost by just under 7,000 votes.