Franco Harris, the running back whose ingenuity came up with “The Immaculate Reception,” widely regarded as the most iconic play in NFL history, has passed away. He was 72 years old.
Harris’s son, Dok, told The Associated Press that his father passed away Tuesday night. The cause of death was not disclosed.
His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of a play that was key to the Steelers’ leap to become one of the NFL’s elite teams, and three days before Pittsburgh had scheduled a ceremony to retire his number 32 during halftime of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“It’s hard to find the right words to describe Franco Harris’ impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers, his teammates, the city of Pittsburgh and Steelers Nation,” team president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Since her season, which included the Immaculate Reception, Franco brought joy to the agent on and off the field of play. He never stopped collaborating in various ways. He touched so much and loved by so many.”
Harris had 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers during the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris ran on a throw from Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the playoff game against Oakland in 1972.
With Pittsburgh trailing 7-6, at 4 and 10 from their own 40-yard line and 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw dropped back and threw deep to running back Frenchy Fuqua. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, the ball floating just above the synthetic surface of Three Rivers Stadium. Harris caught it at the Oakland 45 and ran into the end zone, through several Raiders defenders, to give the Steelers the first playoff win in four-decade playoff history.
Although the Raiders claimed the play was illegal at the time, over time they accepted their role in the story. Oakland linebacker Phil Villapiano, who guarded Harris on the play, even participated in the 40th anniversary of the play in 2012, when a small monument was unveiled commemorating the exact spot where the catch was made.
“That play really represents our ’70s teams,” Harris said after the “Immaculate Reception” came out on top in voting for the most outstanding play in NFL history as they celebrated the league’s 100th anniversary in 2020.
Although the Steelers lost the following week to Miami in the AFC championship, Pittsburgh was taking the first steps toward becoming the most dominant team of the ’70s, winning two straight Super Bowls, first after the 1974 and 1975 seasons, and again. after the campaigns of 1978 and 1979.
And it all started with a move that transformed a franchise and, in some ways, a region.
“We have lost an incredible player, an incredible Hall of Fame ambassador and most importantly, the greatest gentleman,” said Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter. “Franco not only had an impact on the sport, but he influenced the lives of so many people in a very positive way.”