With a combination of strength, quickness and the ability to make big plays, running back Franco Harris enjoyed an “immaculate” career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The son of an African-American father and an Italian mother, Harris grew up in Fort Dix, N.J. After a standout college career at Penn State University, the Steelers drafted him 13th overall in the 1972 NFL draft.
Pittsburgh’s diverse ethnic communities immediately took to the star running back, forming a “Franco’s Italian Army” fan club. Wearing army helmets and waving Italian flags, his fans flocked to Three Rivers Stadium to cheer on their hero.
Harris found immediate success in his first NFL season, rushing for 1,055 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns en route to NFL Rookie of the Year honors given by The Sporting News and United Press International.
But one play in particular during Franco’s rookie season helped to forever alter the image and fortunes of the Steelers’ franchise.
With the Steelers trailing 7-6 and just 22 seconds left in the 1972 AFC divisional playoff game against the Oakland Raiders, Franco raced down the field after a Terry Bradshaw pass deflected off Raider Jack Tatum just as he collided with “Frenchy” Fuqua. Harris snatched the ball before it hit the ground and scampered 40 yards for the touchdown to seal the Steelers’ first playoff win. It happened in the blink of an eye, and most of the 50,000 fans in attendance never even saw Harris’ amazing catch.
To this day, the “Immaculate Reception” is considered one of the greatest plays in sports history.
Harris made nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 1972 to 1980 and led the Steelers to an unprecedented four Super Bowl championships. His bruising running style, quick feet and big-play instincts provided a perfect complement to the Steelers punishing defense and precision passing attack.
During his 13 professional seasons, he gained 12,120 yards and scored a total of 100 touchdowns — more than any other Steeler in history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Today, millions of visitors each year see Harris’ lifelike museum figure at the Pittsburgh International Airport and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
Visitors to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the History Center can see the cleats and field turf from his Immaculate Reception, along with artifacts from the Super Steelers championship teams. For more information, visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org.
First Published: September 15, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
