Hall of Fame Steelers running back Franco Harris, who led the charge to turn the fortunes of Pittsburgh’s professional football franchise by making the play that became immortalized as the “Immaculate Reception,” died early Wednesday morning. He was 72.
Harris’ son, Dok, confirmed news of his father’s passing, the Associated Press reported. The Steelers legend was set to have his No. 32 retired on Saturday during a ceremony at Acrisure Stadium during the Steelers game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“It is difficult to find the appropriate words to describe Franco Harris’ impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers, his teammates, the City of Pittsburgh and Steelers Nation,” said Art Rooney II, Steelers president, in a prepared statement. “From his rookie season, which included the Immaculate Reception, through the next 50 years, Franco brought joy to people on and off the field. He never stopped giving back in so many ways. He touched so many, and he was loved by so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Dana, his son, Dok, and his extended family at this difficult time.”
Born on March 7, 1950, in Fort Dix, N.J., Harris was drafted by the Steelers with the 13th pick of the 1972 NFL Draft after a stellar career at Penn State. His impact on the city and franchise was immediate.
Harris was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year after a 1972 season that saw him complete what is widely considered the greatest play in NFL history — the Immaculate Reception, which was the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the Steelers’ 13-7 AFC divisional round playoff victory against the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium.
On fourth-and-10 from their 40 with 22 seconds left in the game, Harris scooped up quarterback Terry Bradshaw’s pass intended for John “Frenchy” Fuqua that caromed off Raiders cornerback Jack Tatum back toward the line of scrimmage and scored the AFC divisional-winning touchdown.
The Steelers would go on to lose to the Miami Dolphins in the 1972 AFC title game, but the Immaculate Reception served as the springboard to the franchise’s four Super Bowl titles over the course of the 1970s.
That football, owned by a West Mifflin man, is on display at the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum exhibit, “Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception: 50 Years Later.”
Harris saved some of his finest performances for the grandest of NFL stages. He rushed for a then-record 158 yards and a touchdown in the the Steelers’ 16-6 Super Bowl IX victory over the Minnesota Vikings, and scored at least once in three of the four Super Bowls he played in.
The 354 career rushing yards Harris racked up in Super Bowls remains an NFL record.
Harris played 12 seasons with the Steelers before retiring after one season with the Seattle Seahawks in 1984. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound running back rushed for 12,120 yards and 91 touchdowns during a stellar NFL career that saw him retire with what was then the third-most yards in league history behind Walter Payton and Jim Brown.
Following his retirement from professional football, Harris remained in Pittsburgh and was a fixture at city events. He remained heavily involved in several charities and was chairman of The Pittsburgh Promise, which provides college scholarship opportunities for Pittsburgh Public Schools students.
Harris is survived by his wife, Dana Dokmanovich, and his son, Dok.
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.