Former NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris Dies at 72

Legendary Steelers Running Back Passed Away on Wednesday

Harris, who played a key role in the "Immaculate Reception" that sent the Steelers to Super Bowl IX, was 72 years old.

Franco Harris, the former Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who played a key role in the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory in Super Bowl IX, died Wednesday at the age of 72. The Steelers confirmed Harris' death in a statement, which did not disclose the cause. Harris played for the Steelers from 1972 to 1983, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He was also a member of the Steelers' "Steel Curtain" defense, which helped the team win four Super Bowls in the 1970s.

Harris was best known for his role in the "Immaculate Reception," a controversial play that gave the Steelers a 13-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 AFC Divisional Championship Game. With time running out in the game, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass intended for John Fuqua. However, the pass was tipped by Raiders safety Jack Tatum, and it bounced off the head of Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano and into the hands of Harris, who ran it in for a touchdown.

The "Immaculate Reception" is considered one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, and it helped launch the Steelers' dynasty of the 1970s. Harris was a key member of the Steelers' offense during that era, and he helped the team win four Super Bowls in six years. Harris was named to the Pro Bowl nine times, and he was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 1976. He retired from the NFL after the 1983 season, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.