Franco Harris passes away at 72 (1 Viewer)

[Godsbrother]

Pittsburgh Steelers hall of famer Franco Harris has passed away at age 72, days before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.

The Steelers had only appeared in one playoff game in their 40 year history and had never scored a postseason touchdown. All of that changed with Franco Harris who would become Super Bowl MVP just 2 years later.

Franco was an amazing person and very visible member of the Pittsburgh community. To say he will be missed is an understatement

RIP Franco

 

[Boston]

Wow...not to make it personal but this makes me feel really old...Franco is an all-time great, has 4 rings and was the main piece of one of the NFL's greatest plays and I believe he is still a little underrated...I think that goes with playing with such a loaded team (pre-free agency/salary cap...you could never keep a team like this together today) that also had monster personalities in guys like Lambert, Mean Joe, Swan and Bradshaw...I haven't seen him recently, but he still seemed young to me...tough loss for the NFL and the Steeler community...he was truly one of the best and always carried himself in a great way.

 

[zamboni]

Terrible news on so many levels, especially right before the planned celebration

 

[Godsbrother]

Franco has been making TV and live appearances for the past month and was at my local Giant Eagle grocery store signing autographs on Sunday. His jersey was to be retired on Saturday night.

Really sad and comes as a complete shock

 

[BobbyLayne]

I remember watching the Immaculate Reception playoff game on a Saturday. I was ten years old and thought it was so cool the Steelers had fan clubs like Gerela's Gorillas and Franco's Italian Army.

 

[Insein]

Sad to see.

 

[FairWarning]

Fitting that Pittsburgh plays the Raiders this weekend. NFL Network is having a show about that playoff game this week also.

 

[JohnnyU]

It's sad to see the players I grew up watching pass away. Franco was 9 years older than me and at my age you start to see your mortality.

 

[Godsbrother]

My Dad was a season ticket holder when Three Rivers opened and scored a couple extra tickets to take me and my 3 brothers to the first Steelers playoff game in my lifetime. What am amazing game that I'll never forget. I was nearly 14 years old then and held on to the ticket stub until my parents "cleaned up" my room and moved to a condo when I was in college.

I wish I had that now...

 

[Todem]

Franco was a great RB on one of the greatest teams in NFL history. I also know he was an active and cherished member of the Pittsburgh community. May he rest in peace.

 

[Osaurus]

A legend. RIP

 

[raidergil]

Fitting that Pittsburgh plays the Raiders this weekend. NFL Network is having a show about that playoff game this week also.

Growing up a Raiders fan in the 70s, of course I hated the Steelers. We definitely would have won the 74 & 75 SBs if we could have gotten past them. But what epic games they played in those days. Just brutal. As I got older couldn't help but respect what they did. Really too bad Franco doesn't get to enjoy this weekend. Always seemed like he got along well with old Raiders when they'd get together. I read that he'd call Phil Villapiano every Dec 23 to remind him of the catch.

 

[apalmer]

My freshman year at Pitt, I got to watch the Panthers get demolished regularly: that year they played home games against the Jack Mildren/Gregg Pruitt/Joe Wylie Oklahoma team (that lost the de facto national championship game to Johnny Rodgers and Nebraska), the Joe Theismann/Jim Seymour Notre Dame team, and, of course the Penn State team starring Lydell Mitchell and Franco. Franco stole the show that day from the more publicized Mitchell (who Penn State was pushing for the Heismann), and convinced everyone there that he was better than any of the other stars who had shown off against Pitt during the year. It was enough to have the entire city hoping the Steelers would draft him and celebrating when they did. RIP.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

When I was 3-4-5 yrs old, I had many Steelers items, the Mean Joe Green ads for Coca Cola was an easy path
I remember watching Franco Harris and always had great admiration and respect for him even as a kid learning about the NFL
I thought he was the greatest at the time until I watched Tony Dorsett on Thanksgiving and was always a fan of both of them
71 is not that old these days, sorry to hear of his passing. There are going to be many from the 70s in the coming years I am sad to say

Bradshaw-Swann-Harris, one of the great trios at QB-WR-RB
My heart goes out to all the Steelers' fans
Nothing but admiration and respect for what Harris and the Steelers were able to accomplish
12,000+ Rushing Yards
3rd All time when he left the gridiron

 

[Anarchy99]

I barely remember the Immaculate Reception game as a kid. There were 20 future HOFers involved in that game.

 

[Rubi]

What a sad day for The NFL and the Pittsburgh community. A terrific fun to watch player and an even better human being. Followed him from his Penn State days through his NFL career and beyond. A humble first class person. I grieve today with Franco's Italian Army. I will miss him.

 

[JohnnyU]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Terrible news on so many levels, especially right before the planned celebration

I understand why a lot of people will feel this way
I actually feel this is the perfect week since they are honoring the 50th Anniversary of Franco's famous Immaculate Reception
There won't be a dry eye in the house

 

[simsarge]

I met him at a military convention once. I was really surprised by how humble & soft spoken he was. You always picture how larger than life these players are and then how in real life, they're just people.

 

[zamboni]

Terrible news on so many levels, especially right before the planned celebration

I understand why a lot of people will feel this way
I actually feel this is the perfect week since they are honoring the 50th Anniversary of Franco's famous Immaculate Reception
There won't be a dry eye in the house

I can see that side of it, but the fact that he won’t be able to experience it is the saddest thing of all IMO.

 

[menobrown]

Terrible news on so many levels, especially right before the planned celebration

I understand why a lot of people will feel this way
I actually feel this is the perfect week since they are honoring the 50th Anniversary of Franco's famous Immaculate Reception
There won't be a dry eye in the house

I can see that side of it, but the fact that he won’t be able to experience it is the saddest thing of all IMO.

Yes, was just typing almost exact reply.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

Mitchell had 29 TDs in 1971 at Penn State

Harris was still drafted ahead of him

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Immaculate Reception

 

[efactor]

I remember watching the Immaculate Reception playoff game on a Saturday. I was ten years old and thought it was so cool the Steelers had fan clubs like Gerela's Gorillas and Franco's Italian Army.

Ha, same age and pretty much the same memories

Kenny Stabler came in for Lamonica and scored the Raiders TD on a fairly long run, about 30 yards if I remember correctly. Probably the longest run of his career. Still a lot of disputes about the play concerning if it hit Tatum or Fuqua and did Franco catch it before it hit the ground (he did). Replay would have been a huge clusterfock on that one.

 

[joey]

Long time raiders fan and I’m sick of seeing the 50th anniversary ads, of course. But this is a sad day indeed. Franco seemed like a class act and, as another poster said upthread, even raiders fans could do nothing but respect the quality of the teams that the Steelers continue to put on the field decades later. RIP Franco and let’s just agree that it was an incomplete pass

 

[JohnnyU]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

Mitchell had 29 TDs in 1971 at Penn State

Harris was still drafted ahead of him

Mitchell had a good NFL career with 6,534 yards and 30 tds rushing and 3,203 receiving yards and 17 tds. In 1975 he had 1,193 /11 rushing and 544/4 receiving.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

3 days shy of the anniversary. #RIP

 

[menobrown]

grieve today with Franco's Italian Army

A little funny(to me) story.

Two nights ago I had on NFLN in my home office while they were airing the Franco Harris football life commercial. My wife walked in and asked me who is the Middle Eastern guy. I said that's Franco and he's Italian. She said no, he's probably a fake Italian like you. (side note, my mom is 100% Italian-my grandfather was born in Sicily. But my DNA results are a little skewed)

Sad to see this today. What I also told my wife the other night was "I'm watching this one" in reference to his football life special. Now it's must see for me. I was not watching football during the Steelers glory years in the 70's, I got on that ship literally a year late and started being a fan of the game and the team in 1980. And while I missed watching most of those 70's Steeler greats at their peak I always knew their history and the players from this era were the players I was pulling for and watching my first few years of being a football fan, the players which shaped and solidified my love for the game and the Steeler's team.

Wish he could be present for the celebration, but for those who actually know him and will be physically present together Saturday night it should be a beautiful way to celebrate him.

 

[belljr]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

I posted in the Steelers thread, about how my dad used to get run over by Lydell Mitchell in HS..... Besides this forum he's the only person I know that ever mentioned him

 

[belljr]

My dad made me a Steelers fan when I was a kid. I don't know why he like them but I was born in 71 and I have a picture with a Franco jersey on when I ~ 5 years old :sad:

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Today is also Joe Paterno's birthday.

 

[belljr]

I totally forgot Franco went to the HS the next town over ........

 

[belljr]

grieve today with Franco's Italian Army

A little funny(to me) story.

Two nights ago I had on NFLN in my home office while they were airing the Franco Harris football life commercial. My wife walked in and asked me who is the Middle Eastern guy. I said that's Franco and he's Italian. She said no, he's probably a fake Italian like you. (side note, my mom is 100% Italian-my grandfather was born in Sicily. But my DNA results are a little skewed)

Sad to see this today. What I also told my wife the other night was "I'm watching this one" in reference to his football life special. Now it's must see for me. I was not watching football during the Steelers glory years in the 70's, I got on that ship literally a year late and started being a fan of the game and the team in 1980. And while I missed watching most of those 70's Steeler greats at their peak I always knew their history and the players from this era were the players I was pulling for and watching my first few years of being a football fan, the players which shaped and solidified my love for the game and the Steeler's team.

Wish he could be present for the celebration, but for those who actually know him and will be physically present together Saturday night it should be a beautiful way to celebrate him.

well he is 50% Italian so maybe you both are fake

 

[JohnnyU]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

I posted in the Steelers thread, about how my dad used to get run over by Lydell Mitchell in HS..... Besides this forum he's the only person I know that ever mentioned him

He was my favorite RB between 1975 and 1977

 

[Rubi]

grieve today with Franco's Italian Army

A little funny(to me) story.

Two nights ago I had on NFLN in my home office while they were airing the Franco Harris football life commercial. My wife walked in and asked me who is the Middle Eastern guy. I said that's Franco and he's Italian. She said no, he's probably a fake Italian like you. (side note, my mom is 100% Italian-my grandfather was born in Sicily. But my DNA results are a little skewed)

Sad to see this today. What I also told my wife the other night was "I'm watching this one" in reference to his football life special. Now it's must see for me. I was not watching football during the Steelers glory years in the 70's, I got on that ship literally a year late and started being a fan of the game and the team in 1980. And while I missed watching most of those 70's Steeler greats at their peak I always knew their history and the players from this era were the players I was pulling for and watching my first few years of being a football fan, the players which shaped and solidified my love for the game and the Steeler's team.

Wish he could be present for the celebration, but for those who actually know him and will be physically present together Saturday night it should be a beautiful way to celebrate him.

well he is 50% Italian so maybe you both are fake

All it takes is .5% and you are Italian my friend

 

[JohnnyU]

grieve today with Franco's Italian Army

A little funny(to me) story.

Two nights ago I had on NFLN in my home office while they were airing the Franco Harris football life commercial. My wife walked in and asked me who is the Middle Eastern guy. I said that's Franco and he's Italian. She said no, he's probably a fake Italian like you. (side note, my mom is 100% Italian-my grandfather was born in Sicily. But my DNA results are a little skewed)

Sad to see this today. What I also told my wife the other night was "I'm watching this one" in reference to his football life special. Now it's must see for me. I was not watching football during the Steelers glory years in the 70's, I got on that ship literally a year late and started being a fan of the game and the team in 1980. And while I missed watching most of those 70's Steeler greats at their peak I always knew their history and the players from this era were the players I was pulling for and watching my first few years of being a football fan, the players which shaped and solidified my love for the game and the Steeler's team.

Wish he could be present for the celebration, but for those who actually know him and will be physically present together Saturday night it should be a beautiful way to celebrate him.

well he is 50% Italian so maybe you both are fake

All it takes is .5% and you are Italian my friend

My grandmother on my mom’s side was half Cherokee. I would never consider my pasty white butt Cherokee Indian. If so, then I want my share of those Indian casino proceeds. Kind of sounds like Elizabeth Warren doesn’t it?

 

[Rubi]

grieve today with Franco's Italian Army

A little funny(to me) story.

Two nights ago I had on NFLN in my home office while they were airing the Franco Harris football life commercial. My wife walked in and asked me who is the Middle Eastern guy. I said that's Franco and he's Italian. She said no, he's probably a fake Italian like you. (side note, my mom is 100% Italian-my grandfather was born in Sicily. But my DNA results are a little skewed)

Sad to see this today. What I also told my wife the other night was "I'm watching this one" in reference to his football life special. Now it's must see for me. I was not watching football during the Steelers glory years in the 70's, I got on that ship literally a year late and started being a fan of the game and the team in 1980. And while I missed watching most of those 70's Steeler greats at their peak I always knew their history and the players from this era were the players I was pulling for and watching my first few years of being a football fan, the players which shaped and solidified my love for the game and the Steeler's team.

Wish he could be present for the celebration, but for those who actually know him and will be physically present together Saturday night it should be a beautiful way to celebrate him.

well he is 50% Italian so maybe you both are fake

All it takes is .5% and you are Italian my friend

My grandmother on my mom’s side was half Cherokee. I would never consider my pasty white butt Cherokee Indian. If so, then I want my share of those Indian casino proceeds.

Couldn't hurt to ask

 

[JohnnyU]

grieve today with Franco's Italian Army

A little funny(to me) story.

Two nights ago I had on NFLN in my home office while they were airing the Franco Harris football life commercial. My wife walked in and asked me who is the Middle Eastern guy. I said that's Franco and he's Italian. She said no, he's probably a fake Italian like you. (side note, my mom is 100% Italian-my grandfather was born in Sicily. But my DNA results are a little skewed)

Sad to see this today. What I also told my wife the other night was "I'm watching this one" in reference to his football life special. Now it's must see for me. I was not watching football during the Steelers glory years in the 70's, I got on that ship literally a year late and started being a fan of the game and the team in 1980. And while I missed watching most of those 70's Steeler greats at their peak I always knew their history and the players from this era were the players I was pulling for and watching my first few years of being a football fan, the players which shaped and solidified my love for the game and the Steeler's team.

Wish he could be present for the celebration, but for those who actually know him and will be physically present together Saturday night it should be a beautiful way to celebrate him.

well he is 50% Italian so maybe you both are fake

All it takes is .5% and you are Italian my friend

My grandmother on my mom’s side was half Cherokee. I would never consider my pasty white butt Cherokee Indian. If so, then I want my share of those Indian casino proceeds.

Couldn't hurt to ask

My mom and grandmother both looked Native American. I wonder if I was adopted. Having said that I do look like my dad. More scotch Irish.

 

[Boston]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

I posted in the Steelers thread, about how my dad used to get run over by Lydell Mitchell in HS..... Besides this forum he's the only person I know that ever mentioned him

He was my favorite RB between 1975 and 1977

Bert Jones-Lydell Mitchell-Roger Carr

 

[JohnnyU]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

I posted in the Steelers thread, about how my dad used to get run over by Lydell Mitchell in HS..... Besides this forum he's the only person I know that ever mentioned him

He was my favorite RB between 1975 and 1977

Bert Jones-Lydell Mitchell-Roger Carr

I used to say Jones to Carr is the best by far. People should watch some Bert Jones videos on YouTube. Bill Belichick called him the best pure passer he ever saw and that includes Brady.

 

[Boston]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

I posted in the Steelers thread, about how my dad used to get run over by Lydell Mitchell in HS..... Besides this forum he's the only person I know that ever mentioned him

He was my favorite RB between 1975 and 1977

Bert Jones-Lydell Mitchell-Roger Carr

I used to say Jones to Carr is the best by far. People should watch some Bert Jones videos on YouTube. Bill Belichick called him the best pure passer he ever saw and that includes Brady.

The old AFC East Colts...Ghost to the Post...whoops, sorry about that.

 

[JohnnyU]

Did everyone know he wasn't even the main RB at Penn St? He shared that with Lydell Mitchell, who was a fine NFL RB also, especially as a receiving back for the Baltimore Colts.

I posted in the Steelers thread, about how my dad used to get run over by Lydell Mitchell in HS..... Besides this forum he's the only person I know that ever mentioned him

He was my favorite RB between 1975 and 1977

Bert Jones-Lydell Mitchell-Roger Carr

I used to say Jones to Carr is the best by far. People should watch some Bert Jones videos on YouTube. Bill Belichick called him the best pure passer he ever saw and that includes Brady.

The old AFC East Colts...Ghost to the Post...whoops, sorry about that.

That was the one year Jones had a shot at a Super Bowl. Ghost to the post game against the Raiders in 1977 was one of the greatest games ever. Jones just missed Raymond Chester deep down the sideline that was the difference. The other two losses against those mighty Steelers in 1975 and 1976 he had no chance.

Scoring​

Quarter	Tm	Detail	OAK	BAL
1	Raiders	Clarence Davis 30 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)	7	0
2	Colts	Bruce Laird 61 yard interception return (Toni Linhart kick)	7	7
	Colts	Toni Linhart 36 yard field goal	7	10
3	Raiders	Dave Casper 8 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick)	14	10
	Colts	Marshall Johnson 87 yard kickoff return (Toni Linhart kick)	14	17
	Raiders	Dave Casper 10 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick)	21	17
4	Colts	Ron Lee 1 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)	21	24
	Raiders	Pete Banaszak 1 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)	28	24
	Colts	Ron Lee 13 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)	28	31
	Raiders	Errol Mann 22 yard field goal	31	31
OT	Raiders	Dave Casper 10 yard pass from Ken Stabler	37	31

RIP Kenny Stabler and Toni Linhart. I’m sure there are others.

 

[menobrown]

POTUS issues statement: https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV/status/1605691832280629249

 

[Mister CIA]

1972 was probably the first year I really tuned into the NFL. Franco Harris is a tier 1 legend. Sad day.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Most Pro Bowls, RB

1. Barry Sanders - 10
2. Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Franco Harris - 9
3. Emmitt Smith - 8
4. Marshall Faulk, Adrian Peterson - 7

 

[menobrown]

Man, this was just yesterday: https://twitter.com/CelinaPompeani/status/1605301382218936320

 

[BassNBrew]

Wow...not to make it personal but this makes me feel really old...Franco is an all-time great, has 4 rings and was the main piece of one of the NFL's greatest plays and I believe he is still a little underrated...I think that goes with playing with such a loaded team (pre-free agency/salary cap...you could never keep a team like this together today) that also had monster personalities in guys like Lambert, Mean Joe, Swan and Bradshaw...I haven't seen him recently, but he still seemed young to me...tough loss for the NFL and the Steeler community...he was truly one of the best and always carried himself in a great way.

My thought too. I haven't read all the details, but this may be the first star I watched who passed from natural causes. I'm not that far behind him.

Terrible news on so many levels, especially right before the planned celebration

Yup. Wish he could have seen the celebration and been a part of it.

It's sad to see the players I grew up watching pass away. Franco was 9 years older than me and at my age you start to see your mortality.

Been hanging around these boards since my 20/30s. Growing old with a lot of you guys.

 

[dcgangstas]

Really sad to hear this.

As a Raider fan of 55 years, there was nothing in sports that I looked forward to more than a Raider-Steeler matchup. I saw the Immaculate Reception live, and Franco broke my heart. RIP Franco.

 

[BlackCrowes]

Was a big part of my childhood. PSU fan as well. RIP.