32
Franco Harris 1950-2022
32. A number of great importance not only within my own home, but throughout the nation.
Just days before the 50th anniversary of the greatest play in football history, the man who brought the ball into the endzone, Franco Harris, passed away at age 72. The passing of a football legend surely impacts the league whenever it happens (no matter who it is), but when the public found out about Franco, it left the sports world devastated.
To truly know who Franco was, you have to go back to that fateful day, back in 1972…
December 23, 1972
Pittsburgh P.A….
The Pittsburgh Steelers were a team that didn’t even know the idea of winning. They had never won a playoff game nevermind a Super Bowl, but that all changed when the Raiders came to Three Rivers Stadium for the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs.
As the Steelers went down 7-6, with little time remaining in the game, a young rookie stood on the sidelines. That man, pacing back and forth, ready to go in, was Franco Harris.
With an exceptional 1,055 yards rushing on the season, Franco was certainly ready for a game winning drive. An immaculate one at that.
Terry Bradshaw and the offense were down to a fourth and 10 on their own 40, with 22 seconds left in the game. As the Steelers fans waited for the outcome, Bradshaw launched the ball towards receiver John “Frenchy” Fuqua and the greatest yet most controversial play in football history occurred.
Raiders defender, Jack Tatum, collided with Fuqua resulting in the ball being catapulted away from both of them. As the ball flew gracefully through the air, Franco remembered his college football coach, (Joe Paterno’s) wise words: “Go to the ball”
Franco scooped the deflected ball up, saving it from hitting the ground and defied the odds by hand delivering the ball to the endzone.
There was mass pandemonium in Pittsburgh as Raiders coach John Madden heavily questioned the referees on the credibility of the play. After a short discussion, it was deemed a touchdown, and the Immaculate Reception was born.
Franco Harris became an instant legend in the city of Pittsburgh, taking the Steelers to the next round. Only one could dream what could come in the following years for the Steelers…
Old Bridge, N.J…
As the Steelers went down 7-6, my father sat in front of the TV, disappointed in his new favorite team. Mr. Heite saw Franco’s name in college, liked his name, and said wherever he went, that would be his new favorite team.
As destiny would have it, Franco was drafted to the Steelers, and my dad became a Steeler fan, and would always be one from then on. Little did he know what was about to happen in the game he was watching on TV would change football history forever.
As the Men of Steel had a fourth down, my father, in denial, walked up the stairs about to flip the switch to turn off the power in the room. Just as his hand touched the switch, he heard the announcers yelling.
He ran back down the stairs, seeing his hero, Franco Harris run it in for a Steelers victory. My dad rejoiced and screamed just as the fans did at Three Rivers Stadium.
Mr. Heite’s hero was Franco Harris, and the Immaculate Reception kicked off a whole new part of life for him: being a Steelers fan.
The Hall of Fame Career
While the Immaculate Reception was a huge part of Franco’s career, he was also a fantastic running back for the Steelers in the 70’s and early 80’s. Franco finished his career on the all time yards rushing board (at the time of his retirement), with 12,120 yards. He narrowly missed Jim Brown’s rushing record.
Franco had eight, 1,000 yards rushing seasons and he was a 9 time pro bowler. While all of his stats certainly impress, Franco had one achievement above them all:
He was a four time Super Bowl champion. He was a true hero in the eyes of the Steelers faithful.
After the 1972 season, the crazy Steeler fans the NFL knows today emerged. With Myron Cope’s Terrible Towels waving at every game, it was a yellow wave in Pittsburgh. Franco’s Italian Army, an official fan club, came to fruition as well, making the Steel City a very tough place to play in.
It’s safe to say that Franco left his mark on the NFL as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he did not just have an impact on a football team, he also had a major role in the Pittsburgh community.
The Hero the Community Needed
Everyone who had ever met Franco (besides some of those Raiders who are still upset 50 years later), said that he was the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.
He was always very humble, and always willing to help those in need. He was truly a special person who put others before himself. Franco ran many local charities, as well as donated to many of them.
He was “the Heart of Pittsburgh”, and stayed true to the nickname. Not even two weeks before his passing, I saw him on the news, at a Pittsburgh middle school, talking to the children about the importance of the Immaculate Reception.
Franco had an impact on every single Steelers fan, each one different from the next. For my family, Franco’s impact was very special…
The Number
I have been a Steelers fan since birth (no literally, I was wrapped in a Terrible Towel as a newborn). My brother and I were raised as Steelers fans and we always watched them with our father who wore the same jersey for as long as I could remember.
My dad always wore number 32, Franco Harris. When I was much younger I did not really know the meaning of the number, but I always associated it with my father since he always wore it.
When I got older, and really became more of a football fan, I quickly realized who my father’s hero really was. 32 was and still is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Franco is the entire reason my brother and I are Steeler fans, so he always had a special place in our hearts. The Steelers have always been a topic my father, my brother and I bond over, and that Steeler fan bond came from Franco himself.
The number 32 was truly a special number and still is in my home. With the passing of Franco, it was a very sad day for us. Franco wasn’t just my father’s hero, he was a hero for all of us.
My family, Steeler Nation, and the whole league. Franco was a great man. We will never forget him. He’s the reason the Steelers are the Steelers we know today and will always be a football legend.
December 24, 2022
Just days after the passing of Franco, the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception came around. On the same night, the number 32 was retired at halftime in an emotional ceremony.
In perfect scheduling, the Steelers played the Raiders in a primetime game. Kenny Pickett and the Steelers started off very slow to the season but heated up and was going into the game with hopes for a win.
There were a few surreal moments for me in this game. Firstly, came the true captain, Cam Heyward running out of the tunnel with a 32 flag in honor of Franco.
The game was a tough one for the Men of Steel until the end. But Pickett and Najee Harris weren’t letting the Raiders leave the snowy Pittsburgh with a win.
With less than two minutes left to go, Pickett hit George Pickens in the endzone for a go-ahead touchdown. My dad, brother and I screamed off the couch.
But the game was not finished as Derek Carr and the Raiders still had a little over a minute to get the job done. It was then that another one of those surreal moments happened.
Derek Carr threw an interception. Cam Sutton picked off Carr with 32 seconds to go at the 32 yard line (either that or very very close to it, many said they saw the same thing). Franco truly looked down on the Steelers during this game.
The game was not over however, as the Steelers had to get the first down to win. This perhaps was the most surreal moment of the game for me.
As I watched Conner Heyward take the end around for a first down, my eyes saw something different. As I saw Heyward running, I saw Franco running right next to him, like he was there the whole time helping the team. It seems like it was my mind telling me that they really had won the game, and had done it in Franco’s memory.
As I watched the postgame, teary eyed, I realized that it was truly a special night. Franco Harris had been honored, and the Steelers lived to see another day in the season.
As I looked at my father, I saw the emotions of a thrilling football game as well as sadness. I looked at the jersey he was wearing. It was 32. Franco Harris.
I then realized it was truly an immaculate night.
Rest In Peace
Franco Harris 1950-2022
