Terry Bradshaw remembers longtime teammate, Steelers great Franco Harris: ‘Such a humble giant’
On Wednesday, the person who threw the ball that led to the Immaculate Reception lost his intended recipient. Franco Harris‘s demise shocked the football community in Pittsburgh and far beyond. Terry Bradshaw, a longtime comrade, was one of several people left to handle the information.
During an interview on Good Morning Football on Wednesday, Bradshaw remarked, “He was genuinely just a good man.” “He was never passed by. Success did not alter him. One of his best qualities is that.
“Brad, as he nicknamed me. I was commonly known as TB. Brad, as he nicknamed me.”
Bradshaw threw the pass, which turned out to be a happy accident and solidified Harris’ legacy in the NFL. The pass intended for Pittsburgh’s John Fuqua caromed off a defender and hung in the air just long enough for Harris to snag it inches from the Three Rivers Stadium turf and take it the distance for a game-winning touchdown in the Steelers’ 1972 playoff matchup with the Raiders. The pass earned the Immaculate Reception moniker from the late Steelers radio analyst Myron Cope.
The play gave Pittsburgh its first playoff victory in franchise history and started a string of victories that sent the Steelers to the top of the NFL standings in the years that followed.
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Bradshaw recounted, “Franco takes off the moment I toss the ball.” “I also query him, “What caused you to run downfield?” And he claimed that Joe Paterno instructed the running backs at Penn State to sprint to the play as soon as the quarterback released the ball. To the ball, run. And if Paterno had not imparted that knowledge to him, he would not have released and moved downfield. And since he did exactly that, he was able to catch that pass.
“Just a good narrative, really. As time passes, we gradually add to it because it gets better. I loved making fun of him for his ball catching and blocking. We rarely threw the ball his way. Just a good story, really. I love these stories now more than ever at the age of 74.”
When the Steelers meet the Raiders on Saturday, Pittsburgh has plans to commemorate the famed play’s 50th anniversary. A remarkable distinction for a team that had only retired two numbers in its history previous to this weekend, the franchise is also retiring Harris’ No. 32.
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The celebration will continue and have a secondary goal of paying tribute to one of its greatest participants.
Terry Bradshaw remarked, “I find it a touch prophetic in a way because this was to be perhaps the best event in Franco’s retirement life. “We all claim that winning Super Bowls as a team is how we became who we are today and how we acquired all of our possessions. Now, he will have his jersey retired, which has never happened in Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh, I think there are only three jerseys that have been retired. They planned to commemorate the Immaculate Reception’s 50th anniversary. Additionally, Franco and I had just wrapped up filming a commercial for that very production.”
In Pittsburgh, where he swiftly rose to fame as a hero who gave the city’s supporters a cause to support the black and gold-clad gladiators of the gridiron, Harris will always be remembered as a revered figure. Pittsburgh has always rooted for the Steelers with the fiercest fervor, starting with the Immaculate Reception.
They’ll do the same on Saturday with a unique ceremony that will feature a tribute to one of its most cherished members.
“Franco will only be come to the mind by me as a terrific comrade. He has excellent teammate “stated Bradshaw. “I never served as the football team’s captain. Franco was not, in my opinion. But he was a talkative man in the huddle and on the sidelines. Simply put, he was a good man. I’m stuck at that. A constant smile. A constant smile. What a gentle giant. Superstar. Simply said, I’ll miss our friendship.”
