Franco Harris was an American football running back who played in the National Football League for 13 seasons, primarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
37 Facts About Franco Harris
2.
Franco Harris played college football at Penn State University and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft.
3.
Franco Harris scored the "Immaculate Reception" touchdown, one of professional football's most famous plays, which gave the Steelers their first playoff win en route to their first Super Bowl title.
4.
Franco Harris was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
5.
Franco Harris's father, Cad Harris, a Black soldier, served in World War II and was stationed in Italy during the war.
6.
Franco Harris's mother, Gina Parenti Harris, was a native Italian and became a "war bride", who moved with her husband when he returned to the United States after the end of the war.
7.
Franco Harris graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, in 1968.
8.
Franco Harris then attended Penn State University, where he played on the Nittany Lions football team.
9.
Franco Harris was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers despite assistant personnel director Bill Nunn and head coach Chuck Noll preferring Robert Newhouse.
10.
Franco Harris rushed for 10 touchdowns and caught one touchdown pass.
11.
Franco Harris was popular with Pittsburgh's large Italian-American population: his fans, including "Brigadier General" Frank Sinatra, dubbed themselves "Franco's Italian Army" and wore army helmets with his number on them.
12.
Franco Harris snatched the ball just before it hit the ground and ran it into the endzone, resulting in the Steelers' first playoff win.
13.
Franco Harris was chosen for nine consecutive Pro Bowls, and was All-Pro in 1977.
14.
Franco Harris rushed for more than 1,000 yards in eight seasons, breaking a record set by Jim Brown.
15.
Franco Harris was the first African American as well as the first Italian-American to be named Super Bowl MVP.
16.
Franco Harris was a major contributor for the Steelers in all of their first four Super Bowl wins.
17.
Franco Harris claimed that he extended his career and thus his contribution to the team's objectives by avoiding unnecessary contact.
18.
Franco Harris played just eight games with the team, gaining only 170 yards before retiring.
19.
Franco Harris caught 307 passes for 2,287 yards, a 7.4 yards per reception average, and nine receiving touchdowns.
20.
In 2007, Franco Harris was chosen by Forest City Enterprises to lead a charitable foundation they created, related to the development of a casino for downtown Pittsburgh that would be managed by Harrah's.
21.
Franco Harris voted for Barack Obama on December 15,2008, as one of Pennsylvania's 21 Democratic presidential electors.
22.
In January 2011, Franco Harris became co-owner of the Pittsburgh Passion.
23.
In 2019, Franco Harris starred in the NFL's 100th Anniversary commercial recreating the Immaculate Reception with Terry Bradshaw.
24.
Franco Harris served as part of the advisory board of Penn State's Center for Food Innovation, and in the fall of 2009 was named a Conti Professor by Penn State's School of Hospitality Management.
25.
Franco Harris was involved in, and provided funding to, Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship, a group aimed at ousting the members of Penn State's board of trustees.
26.
Beyond his incredible career in the NFL Franco Harris represents what is best in humanity: kindness, charity, decency, and humility.
27.
Franco Harris led by example on and off the field with the goal of making this a better world for us all.
28.
Franco Harris died in his sleep at his home in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on December 20,2022 at age 72, three days before the 50th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception".
29.
Franco Harris' death was considered sudden, as he had been active on social media just days before his death and had spoken to visitors at the Heinz History Center the day before his death including a live interview with KDKA-TV from the Heinz History Center.
30.
Franco Harris was set to attend a ceremony at halftime during a Steelers game against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 24,2022, to retire his jersey number.
31.
Hours before his death, Franco Harris recorded an interview with Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward for his podcast in what would be his last public interview, during which he ironically commented about how he was "feeling good" and happy to have made it to the 50th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception".
32.
Franco Harris never stopped giving back in so many ways.
33.
Franco Harris touched so many, and he was loved by so many.
34.
US Senator-elect John Fetterman released a statement mourning Franco Harris, who supported his 2022 candidacy.
35.
In 1984, Franco Harris received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
36.
Franco Harris was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2011.
37.
On December 24,2022, the 50th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception", Franco Harris became the third Steeler to have his number retired; the first two were Ernie Stautner and Joe Greene.