“Blows My Mind”: Hours Before Last Breath, Franco Harris Revisited a Riveting Phase of His Terrific Career

The NFL world lost one of its most precious gems last week. News of legendary Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris passing away didn’t sit well with the footballing community. More so, because Harris seemed like he was doing just fine hours before his death when he discussed his most famous play ever, the ‘Immaculate Reception’.

Franco’s legacy in Pittsburgh was etched in stone on December 23, 1972, when he single-handedly turned the fortunes of an entire franchise. Before the immaculate reception, the Pittsburgh Steelers were bottom-placed junk. Former Steelers teammate ‘Mean’ Joe Greene said that they were called ‘the armpit of the NFL’ before Franco arrived. After the memorable play, the Steelers went on to dominate the next decade, winning 4 championships and becoming one of the greatest dynasties of the NFL. However, Franco doesn’t remember much of it.

“You know what, when I watch the film I can’t remember anything of the play past just leaving the backfield. But when I see the film, and I see it in real time, it just blows my mind how quick that is. It didn’t make any sense. Like, I just don’t understand it,” Franco Harris said on Christopher Russo’s podcast, ‘Mad Dog Unleashed’, on SiriusXM.

The legendary Franco Harris catch was a controversial one and still remains to this day

The world definitely remembers. NFL Network named it the top play of the century in 2019. The rebound ball and Franco Harris miraculously catching it before it touched the ground will forever remain in Steelers Nation’s memory. After that, the former No 32 put the icing on the cake as he ran it for the winning TD against the Oakland Raiders.

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QB Terry Bradshaw threw the ball to RB John ‘Frenchy’ Fuqua. However, the pass was incomplete, and the ball ricocheted off the helmet of Raiders’ safety, Jack Tatum. And the rest was history. Controversies surrounding the nose of the ball touching the ground before Franco caught it will forever hang in the air. Sadly, there just weren’t enough camera angles back in the day.

However, Franco said that he has no memory of the incident from the extreme adrenaline. And he could not vouch for or confirm any potential hypotheses. “I have no idea,” he said.

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Franco passed away days before the 50th anniversary of the ‘Immaculate Reception’. However, he must be smiling wherever he is after his Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Las Vegas Raiders 13-10 in the special ceremony game this week.