Franco Harris' death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of 'The Immaculate Reception' and three days before the Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
viaFILE - Pittsburgh Steelers' Franco Harris eludes a tackle by Oakland Raiders' Jimmy Warren as he runs 42-yards for a touchdown after catching a deflected pass, Dec. 23, 1972.Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back whose heads-up thinking authored "The Immaculate Reception," considered the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72.
Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972. "That play really represents our teams of the '70s," Harris said after the "Immaculate Reception" was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league's 100th anniversary season in 2020.
Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950, Harris played collegiately at Penn State, where his primary job was to open holes for backfield mate Lydell Mitchell. The Steelers, in the final stages of a rebuild led by Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll, saw enough in Harris to make him the 13th overall pick in the 1972 draft.
The city's large Italian-American population embraced Harris immediately, led by two local businessmen who founded what became known as "Franco's Italian Army," a nod to Harris' roots as the son of an African-American father and an Italian mother. Despite his gaudy numbers, Harris stressed he was just one cog in an extraordinary machine that redefined greatness.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Franco Harris, legendary Pittsburgh Steelers running back, dead at 72franco harris, steelers franco harris, franco harris steelers, steelers franco harris dies, steelers franco harris dies
Read more »
Franco Harris, legendary Steelers running back who caught 'The Immaculate Reception,' dies at 72Harris was known for the 'Immaculate Reception,' one of the most famous plays in American football history, and was considered one of the NFL's most iconic athletes.
Read more »
NFL legend Franco Harris, known for Immaculate Reception, dead at 72Pittsburgh Steelers legendary running back Franco Harris, known for his role in the Immaculate Reception, has died at 72. The team was about to celebrate 50 years of the catch.
Read more »
Franco Harris of Pittsburgh Steelers ‘Immaculate Reception’ fame dies at 72: reportsFifty years ago this week, Harris caught the iconic “Immaculate Reception” in the Steelers first playoff victory over the Raiders.
Read more »
50 years later, Franco Harris’ ‘Immaculate Reception’ still lifts Pittsburgh’s spirits50 years ago this Friday, hustling fullback Franco Harris secured the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-ever playoff win. It was the start of a long dynasty.
Read more »
‘Immaculate Reception' Still Lifts a Region's Spirits 50 Years Later🏈 The NFL considers Franco Harris’ “Immaculate Reception” the greatest play in league history, but it’s more than that.
Read more »