CNN
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Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris, who was arguably best known for one of the most iconic plays in NFL history – dubbed the ‘Immaculate Reception’ – has died at the age of 72, it has been announced the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Harris died overnight, the Hall of Fame said, citing his family. The cause of his death has not been announced.
“We have lost an incredible football player, an incredible ambassador to the Hall and, more importantly, we have lost one of the finest gentlemen you could ever meet,” Hall of Fame Chairman Jim Porter said.
“Franco not only had an impact on football, but he also affected the lives of so many people in profoundly positive ways.
“The Hall of Fame and historians around the world will forever tell the story of Franco’s football. However, the story of his life can never be fully told without including his greatness off the pitch.
Harris died days before the 50th anniversary of the “immaculate reception,” a game-winning touchdown catch that led the Steelers to victory over the then-Oakland Raiders 13-7 for Pittsburgh’s first-ever playoff game in the AFC Divisional Round in 1972.
“This game really represents our teams from the 70s,” Harris recalled after the reception was voted the greatest play in NFL history of 2020 during the league’s 100th anniversary season.
The Steelers had planned to retire Harris’ number 32 jersey at halftime of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
“The career he spawned in Franco, a gold jacket career,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.
“What it did for them that season in terms of the trajectory of the season. What he has done for this franchise. There are a lot of things that make it the game it is. The most important game in the history of gaming.”
Drafted to Penn State as the 13th pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, Harris quickly became a star for the team, earning NFL Rookie of the Year honors after becoming only the fourth rookie in the league. NFL history of rushing for 1,000 yards.
During his career, Harris was a four-time Super Bowl champion, earning Super Bowl IX MVP honors after rushing for 158 yards in the game against the Minnesota Vikings to help the Steelers win their first-ever league title.
Running back Harris retired after 13 seasons – 12 with the Steelers and one with the Seattle Seahawks.
The nine-time Pro Bowler has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in eight seasons, amassing 12,120 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns during his career.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
