SPORTS: National Football League’s Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Franco Harris dies at 72
AGN.News Team
December 21, 2022
PITTSBURGH (AGN.News) – It is with heavy hearts that we make the following announcement:
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, legendary NFL Pittsburgh Steelers player, Franco Harris (March 7, 1950 – December 20, 2022), number 32, passed away. Legendary Steelers Running Back Franco Harris dies at 72.
The entire National Football League, players, coaches, support personnel, fans from around the world and all of us here at Alphabet Global News (AGN), mourn the loss of one of the NFL’s most admired players and most memorable players.
Franco Harris’ many accomplishments
In his first season with the Steelers (1972), Harris was named the league’s Rookie of the Year by both The Sporting News and United Press International. In that season he gained 1,055 yards on 188 carries, with a 5.6 yards per carry average. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns and caught four touchdown passes.
Harris was chosen for 9 consecutive Pro Bowls (1972–1980), and was All-Pro in 1977. Harris rushed for more than 1,000 yards in eight seasons, breaking a record set by Jim Brown.
The running back tandem of Harris and Rocky Bleier combined with a strong defense to win four Super Bowls following the 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 seasons.
On January 12, 1975, he was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IX; in that game he rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries for a 16–6 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Harris was a time player in four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV) and named Super Bowl MVP (IX). Harris was the first African American as well as the first Italian-American to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Harris was a major contributor for the Steelers in all of their first four Super Bowl wins. His Super Bowl career totals of 101 carries for 354 yards are records and his four career rushing touchdowns are tied for the second-most in Super Bowl history. Harris also scored a touchdown in each of the Steelers four Super Bowl wins in the 1970s, the only player to do so.
Franco Harris honored posthumously
While the Steelers have only officially retired two uniform numbers (Ernie Stautner’s number 70 and Joe Greene’s number 75), they have not reissued his number 32 since he left the team, and it is generally understood that no Steelers player will ever wear that number again.
On September 6, 2022 the Steelers announced that they will retire his famous #32 on December 24, 2022, an event which will now take place posthumously.
Franco Harris’ “The Immaculate Reception”
Franco Harris was a key player in one of NFL professional football’s most famous plays, dubbed “The Immaculate Reception” by Pittsburgh sportscaster Myron Cope.
On Dec. 23, 1972, in a 1972 playoff game, the Oakland Raiders were leading the Steelers 7–6 with 22 seconds to play when a Terry Bradshaw pass was deflected away from intended receiver John “Frenchy” Fuqua right as defender Jack Tatum arrived to tackle Fuqua. Harris snatched the ball just before it hit the ground and ran it into the endzone to win the game.
Harris’ death comes just days before the 50th anniversary (December 23, 2022) of the Steelers’ celebration of the “Immaculate Reception.” Harris made one of the most iconic plays in NFL history.
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Written by
AGN.News Team
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