Our condolences go out to his wife, Dana, and their son, Dok." He will forever live in the hearts of Steelers fans everywhere, his teammates, and the city of Pittsburgh. Franco changed the way people thought of the Steelers, of Pittsburgh, and of the NFL. He was a gentle soul who touched so many in the Pittsburgh community and throughout the entire NFL. "He meant so much to Steelers fans as the Hall of Fame running back who helped form the nucleus of the team's dynasty of the '70s, but he was much more. "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Franco Harris," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. While the Steelers fell the next week to Miami in the AFC Championship Game, Pittsburgh was on its way to becoming the dominant team of the 1970s, twice winning back-to-back Super Bowls, first after the 19 seasons and again after the 19 seasons. "That play really represents our teams of the '70s," Harris said after the Immaculate Reception was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league's 100th anniversary season in 2020. While nearly everyone else on the field stopped, Harris kept his legs churning, snatching the ball just inches above the Three Rivers Stadium turf near the Oakland 45, then outracing several stunned Raiders defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in the franchise's four-decade history. Fuqua and Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris. With the Steelers trailing 7-6 and facing fourth-and-10 from its own 40-yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw drifted back and threw deep to running back John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers in the 1970s, a dynasty that began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Dana, his son Dok, and his extended family at this difficult time." He touched so many, and he was loved by so many. He never stopped giving back in so many ways. "From his rookie season, which included the Immaculate Reception, through the next 50 years, Franco brought joy to people on and off the field. "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 Steelers president Art Rooney II in a statement. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders. His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Pittsburgh Steelers from also-rans into NFL elite and three days before the team is scheduled to retire his No. Harris' son, Dok, told The Associated Press his father died overnight. 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. Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris dies at 72
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said that he watched the draft with his parents before making the short drive down to the Steelers’ training facility where he held his press conference.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser And so, we feel really, really comfortable in terms of that.”Īfter he wasn’t picked in the first round like many had anticipated, Porter Jr. And that’s part of the process, seeing how the guys handle things…There wasn’t a bad word to be said about the young man. “I think he understood that right from the beginning and he handled it like a true professional, like what you want to see these guys do when they go through this process. “People were coming in to see him because he was a good player, not because of who his dad was,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said, according to the Steelers’ website.
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has displayed his own abilities this season, not allowing a single touchdown and conceding just one plus-15 yards play, according to Pro Football Focus.ĭuring his four seasons at Penn State, meanwhile, he has generated 114 tackles, defended 21 passes and won an interception in 35 games.
Lowrance/Getty Images North America/Getty ImagesĪnd Porter Jr.
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