The Pittsburgh Steelers and fans of the organization were planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the best plays in sports history this coming Saturday. The team hosts the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve, but WTAE News is reporting that legendary running back, Franco Harris, passed away on Tuesday just days before his number was set to be the third in franchise history to be retired along with Ernie Stautner and Mean Joe Greene.
Steelers Hall-of-Famer Franco Harris dead at 72 https://t.co/VUnUaNJ0Qy
— WTAE-TV Pittsburgh (@WTAE) December 21, 2022
The four-time Super Bowl Champion is one of the most well known and beloved athletes in the entire city of Pittsburgh and his untimely passing at the age of 72 is an absolute tragedy. WTAE reported that the cause of death is unknown.
Dec 2, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Former Pittsburgh Steelers players "Mean" Joe Greene (left) and Franco Harris talk on the sidelines before the Steelers and San Diego Chargers game at Heinz Field. The Super Bowl XIII team is to be recognized during halftime. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
During his Week 16 press conference, head coach, Mike Tomlin spoke on the significance of the Immaculate Reception and how it helped to launch what would be a Hall of Fame career for Harris:
"The career that it spawned in Franco, a gold jacket career," Tomlin said Tuesday. "What it did for them that season in terms of the trajectory of the season. What it's done for this franchise. There's many things that make it the play that it is. The most significant play in the history of the game."
The team announced the celebration just before the season began and the former ball-carrier credited more than just himself when speaking to the media back in September:
"I share this honor with my teammates, my coaches, the equipment and support personnel," Harris said. "What an honor to have my name hanging next to Ernie Stautner and my teammate and great friend, Joe Greene."
LATROBE, PA - JULY 1982: Rocky Bleier (L), sports reporter for WPXI television and a former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, interviews running back Franco Harris #32 of the Steelers during summer training camp at St. Vincent College in July 1982 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The thought of having his number being retired simply never crossed his mind, even though he was a pivotal player on some of the best teams the NFL has ever seen:
"In my wildest dreams, I never expected it," Harris said in September. "It was never on my mind. You just know that the Steelers don't retire numbers so you don't have any thoughts on it. So when Art mentioned it to me, I was blown away. that was a wild moment. Unbelievable."
Harris had 12,120 rushing yards throughout his 12 years in Pittsburgh and one in Seattle with the Seahawks. He scored 100 total touchdowns and was a force in the backfield for the Steelers during their Super Bowl runs in the 1970s. The sudden death is a crushing one to swallow and awful news to wake up to just days before terrible towels were expected to swarm Acrisure Stadium to show Harris' how loved he is in Pittsburgh and by the black and gold faithful.
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 28: NFL Hall of Fame inductee Franco Harris speaks on stage during round one of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
At first, WTAE reported the devastating news, but the AP also confirmed it stating that Franco's son, Franco or 'Dok' said that he passed away overnight. There are no words to describe how troubling this news is.
PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris has died. He was 72. His son Dok tells The Associated Press Harris passed away over night.
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) December 21, 2022
Our thoughts go out to Dana, his wife and his son as well as his entire family. Let us know your thoughts about this horrible news below.
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