Pittsburgh Steelers pay tribute to Franco Harris who passed away earlier this week just before the franchise was set to honor him & retire his number at halftime in Christmas Eve game vs Raiders… 50 years after the ‘Immaculate Reception’
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ tribute to the career of Franco Harris took a different tone than originally planned after the Hall-of-Fame running back passed away unexpectedly this week.
Harris was set to have his no. 32 retired by the Steelers in this week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders – just a day after the 50th anniversary of Harris’s ‘Immaculate Reception’.
Steelers players entered Saturday’s game wearing replica jerseys of Harris’s 32 on them, which were initially set to be worn under happier circumstances – and with Harris and his family in the stands.
The family of Franco Harris stood in his place at his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday
He was initially set to be honored this weekend because it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the ‘Immaculate Reception’ from the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoffs.
In that game against the then-Oakland Raiders, a pass from Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw was deflected in the air. Harris – who wasn’t the intended receiver – caught the ball just before it hit the ground and ran into the end zone.
That touchdown ended up being the winning score in the game and the Steelers moved on to the AFC Championship Game. There, they lost to the eventual Super Bowl VII champion Miami Dolphins, who finished the season undefeated.
Harris was set to be honored and have his number retired before his death this past Tuesday
At halftime, Steelers president Art Rooney II officially retired his number alongside Harris’s widow Dana and his son Doc.
‘The big man was supposed to be standing here right next to me,’ Rooney said during the ceremony. ‘But I want to thank Dana and Dok for being here tonight, for sharing Franco with us for the last 50 years.
It’s been said, “Life will bring you sorrow, but it’s up to us to bring joy.” Franco brought us joy for 50 years.
‘So in recognition of his many contributions, both on and off the field, it’s my honor to declare No. 32 as officially retired.’
The Steelers aired a tribute video to Harris that was meant to honor his accomplishments, but took on a whole new meaning when he passed away unexpectedly earlier this week.
After Rooney’s words, the team aired a tribute video featuring a number of Harris’s teammates.
‘Franco was the heart and soul of our team. When Franco arrived, we became the Pittsburgh Steelers,’ Hall-of-Famer ‘Mean’ Joe Greene said in the tribute to Harris.
‘Everything went through Franco,’ Bradshaw added in that video presentation. “One handoff, I’m watching and I’m going ‘wow, this guy is special.”
‘He is the consummate team player. It wasn’t about how many yards he gained, all he cared about was winning,’ Hall-of-Famer Jack Ham said.
Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward entered the field waving a flag of Harris’s no. 32
Harris died on December 20 in his sleep at his home in the Pittsburgh suburb of Sewickley, Pennsylvania. It was considered a sudden death – seeing as Harris had been active on social media and did interviews on local television the day before his death.
Multiple current and former Steelers players paid tribute to Harris, including current tight end Pat Freiermuth – who Harris announced as Pittsburgh’s second round pick in 2021.
Others who paid tribute included Penn State University – Harris’s alma mater – as well as the Seahawks, President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and Pennsylvania Senator-elect John Fetterman.
Prior to the game, Cameron Heyward ran out of the tunnel onto the field carrying a flag with the number 32 on it in Harris’s honor.
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