Franco Harris: Pittsburgh Steelers legend, identified for 'Immaculate Reception,' useless at age 72

Muricas News  — 

Pittsburgh Steelers nice Franco Harris, who was arguably greatest identified for probably the most iconic performs in NFL historical past – dubbed the “Immaculate Reception” – has died on the age of 72, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame introduced on Wednesday.

Harris died in a single day, the Corridor of Fame mentioned, citing his household. The reason for his demise hasn’t been introduced.

“We now have misplaced an unbelievable soccer participant, an unbelievable ambassador to the Corridor and, most significantly, we've got misplaced one of many most interesting gents anybody will ever meet,” mentioned Corridor of Fame President Jim Porter.

“Franco not solely impacted the sport of soccer, however he additionally affected the lives of many, many individuals in profoundly optimistic methods.

“The Corridor of Fame and historians in all places will inform Franco’s soccer story endlessly. His life story can by no means be instructed totally, nevertheless, with out together with his greatness off the sphere.”

Harris died days earlier than the fiftieth anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception,” a game-winning landing catch which led the Steelers to victory over the then Oakland Raiders 13-7 for Pittsburgh’s first-ever playoff recreation within the 1972 AFC Divisional Spherical.

“That play actually represents our groups of the ’70s,” Harris recalled after the reception was voted the best play in NFL historical past in 2020 through the league’s one hundredth anniversary season.

The Steelers had deliberate to retire Harris’ quantity 32 jersey throughout halftime of their recreation towards the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.

“The profession that it spawned in Franco, a gold jacket profession,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Tuesday.

“What it did for them that season when it comes to the trajectory of the season. What it’s performed for this franchise. There’s many issues that make it the play that it's. Essentially the most vital play within the historical past of the sport.”

Drafted out of Penn State because the thirteenth choose within the 1972 NFL Draft, Harris shortly turned a star for the workforce, successful the NFL’s Rookie of the 12 months after turning into solely the fourth rookie in NFL historical past to hurry for 1,000 yards.

In his profession, Harris was a four-time Tremendous Bowl champion, successful MVP honors in Tremendous Bowl IX after speeding for 158 yards within the recreation towards the Minnesota Vikings to assist the Steelers seize their first-ever league title.

Operating again Harris retired after 13 seasons – 12 with the Steelers and one with the Seattle Seahawks.

The nine-time Professional Bowler rushed for a minimum of 1,000 yards in eight seasons, amassing 12,120 speeding yards and 91 touchdowns in his profession.

He was enshrined into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1990.