The Fate of Franco Harris, the Immaculate Reception and the Birth of “Franco’s Italian Army” at St. Vincent College
PITTSBURGH — 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.
His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL’s elite and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In his career, Harris was a four-time Super Bowl champion, winning MVP honors in Super Bowl IX after rushing for 158 yards in the game against the Minnesota Vikings to help the Steelers capture their first-ever league title.
With Pittsburgh facing a fourth-and-10) from their own 40 yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw threw a deep ball to FRENCH FURY. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris.
After the Dolphins defeated Pittsburgh in the playoffs, theSteelers were going to become the dominant team of the 70s, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1974 and 1975, and again in 1978 and 1979.
Despite all of his success, his time in Pittsburgh ended acrimoniously when the Steelers cut him after he held out during training camp before the 1984 season. Noll, who leaned on Harris so heavily for so long, famously answered “Franco who?” Harris was not at the team’s camp at Saint Vincent College.
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.
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He had eight occasions where he topped 1,000 yards rushing in a season, with five of them occurring on a 14-game schedule. He piled up another 1,556 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns in the playoffs, both second all-time behind Smith.
Harris said during his Hall of Fame speech in 1990 that each player brought their own piece of furniture to make that wonderful decade happen. The player had their own strengths and weaknesses and each had a method that worked for them. It was amazing that all of the pieces came together, and it stayed together to create the greatest team of all time.
Harris was released by Seattle in the middle of the season, after running for 170 yards in eight games. He retired as the NFL’s third all-time leading rusher behind Walter Payton and Jim Brown.
Harris remained in Pittsburgh after his retirement, starting a bakery, becoming involved in several charities and serving as the chairman of “Pittsburgh Promise,” an organization that provides college scholarship opportunities for Pittsburgh Public School students.
“We have lost an incredible football player, an incredible ambassador to the Hall and, most importantly, we have lost one of the finest gentlemen anyone will ever meet,” said Hall of Fame President Jim Porter.
“The Hall of Fame and historians everywhere will tell Franco’s football story forever. His life story cannot be told completely, unless it includes his greatness off the field.
“What it did for them that season in terms of the trajectory of the season. What it’s done for this franchise. There are many things that make the play work. The most significant play in the history of the game.”