Franco Harris was a prominent American football running back who played 13 seasons in the NFL, 12 of which were with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted in the first round in 1972 after a successful college career at Penn State, he became a nine-time Pro Bowler and integral part of the Steelers dynasty. He is perhaps best known for his role in the "Immaculate Reception," one of the most famous plays in NFL history, which occurred during his rookie season. Harris concluded his NFL career with a final season with the Seattle Seahawks.
March 7, 1950: Birth of Franco Harris
Franco Harris was born on March 7, 1950.
1968: High School Graduation
Franco Harris graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1968.
1970: Penn State Leading Scorer
Franco Harris led the Penn State football team in scoring in 1970.
1972: Start of Pro Bowl Streak
1972 marked the beginning of Franco Harris's nine consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
1972: NFL Draft and Rookie Season
In 1972, Franco Harris was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and won several Rookie of the Year awards. He also gained popularity with Pittsburgh's Italian-American community, who formed "Franco's Italian Army".
1972: NFL Draft and Rookie Season
In 1972, Franco Harris was drafted into the NFL by the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a successful rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year awards.
1974: First Super Bowl Win
Franco Harris and the Steelers won their first Super Bowl in 1974.
January 12, 1975: Super Bowl IX MVP
On January 12, 1975, Franco Harris was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IX, becoming the first African American and Italian-American to receive the honor.
1977: All-Pro Selection
Franco Harris was named All-Pro in 1977.
1978: Third Super Bowl Win
Franco Harris and the Steelers won their third Super Bowl title in 1978.
1979: Fourth Super Bowl Win
In 1979, Franco Harris and the Steelers secured their fourth Super Bowl victory.
1979: O.J. Simpson Retirement
With O.J. Simpson's retirement in 1979, Franco Harris became the active career rushing leader.
1980: End of Pro Bowl Streak
1980 marked the end of Franco Harris's streak of nine consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
1983: Approaching Jim Brown's Record
In 1983, Harris neared Jim Brown's NFL rushing record.
1984: Golden Plate Award
In 1984, Franco Harris received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
1984: Released by Steelers and Signed with Seahawks
In 1984, the Steelers released Franco Harris after a contract dispute, and he subsequently signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He retired later that year.
1990: Super Bakery Founding
Franco Harris co-founded Super Bakery in 1990.
1990: Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction
Franco Harris was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
1996: Parks Sausage Company Rescue
In 1996, Harris and Mitchell partnered to save the Parks Sausage Company.
August 15, 2006: Death of Pete Harris
Franco Harris's brother, Pete, died of a heart attack on August 15, 2006.
2006: Immaculate Reception Statue Unveiled
A life-size statue of Franco Harris recreating the "Immaculate Reception" was installed at Pittsburgh International Airport in 2006.
2006: Super Bakery Renamed
Super Bakery was renamed RSuper Foods in 2006.
2007: Leadership of Charitable Foundation
In 2007, Franco Harris was selected to lead a charitable foundation associated with a casino development project in Pittsburgh.
August 2008: Attended Democratic National Convention
Franco Harris attended the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
December 15, 2008: Voted for Barack Obama
Franco Harris voted for Barack Obama as a presidential elector on December 15, 2008.
2008: Fictionalized Appearances
In 2008, a character in John Grisham's novel "Playing for Pizza" was nicknamed Franco in tribute to Harris. A fictional version of Harris also appeared in the TV show "This Is Us."
2009: Son's Mayoral Run
Franco Harris's son, Dok, ran for mayor of Pittsburgh in 2009.
2009: Penn State Involvement
In 2009, Franco Harris served on the advisory board of Penn State's Center for Food Innovation and was named a Conti Professor by the School of Hospitality Management. He also supported a group seeking to remove members of Penn State's board of trustees.
January 2011: Pittsburgh Passion Co-owner and The Meadows Racetrack
In January 2011, Franco Harris became co-owner of the Pittsburgh Passion and briefly worked with The Meadows Racetrack and Casino. His association with the casino ended after his public support of Joe Paterno amidst the Penn State scandal.
2011: New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction
Franco Harris was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2011.
2019: NFL 100th Anniversary Commercial
In 2019, Franco Harris starred in the NFL's 100th Anniversary commercial, recreating the Immaculate Reception.
December 20, 2022: Death of Franco Harris
Franco Harris passed away on December 20, 2022.
December 24, 2022: Planned Jersey Retirement Ceremony
A ceremony to retire Franco Harris's jersey was scheduled for December 24, 2022, during a Steelers game.
December 27, 2022: Tributes Pour in for Franco Harris
On December 27, 2022, numerous individuals and organizations offered heartfelt tributes following the death of Franco Harris. These included former teammates like Terry Bradshaw and Steelers president Art Rooney II, along with other figures like Jack Ham, Pat Freiermuth, and various Pittsburgh celebrities.
2022: Widespread Mourning for Franco Harris
In 2022, following Franco Harris's passing, tributes poured in from various sources, including the Seattle Seahawks, other NFL teams, prominent players like Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, and even political figures such as Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and John Fetterman.