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Franco Harris
Position: Running Back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 225.
Born: March 7, 1950/ Fort Dix, New Jersey
College: Penn State
Drafted: 1972 1st Round (13th overall)
NFL Career: 1972-1983 Pittsburgh, 1984 Seattle
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1990 (Presenter: Lynn Swann)
Harris signed on with the Steelers in 1972. He was their number one draft pick as well as the first RB and thirteenth player selected in the NFL draft. Harris was the fifth rookie in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards, quickly demonstrating his potential for future greatness. Harris had the size and strength to mow over defenders at will, however, he sometimes drew criticism about his willingness to step out of bounds instead of pushing for that extra yard. "In truth, he'd blast when the yardage was vital, but his cerebral running style helped save his body for a long career."
Whenever the name Franco Harris is spoken people associate it with one of the best running backs ever to have played the game. Next, they might comment that during his amazing Rookie year, the Steelers had a phenomenal record of 11-1. The Steelers went to the AFC Championship game that year, thanks to one of the most memorable of Harris' plays during that preclusive season: It's a chilly December day in Pittsburgh and the Steelers are losing to the Raiders 7-6 with only 22 seconds before the fourth quarter of the AFC playoff game ends. The Steelers are fourth and ten on their own 40-yard line. Bradshaw falls into the pocket, scrambles and manages to release a rocket of a pass. It's intended for John (Frenchy) Fuqua. Harris sees Fuqua open even before Bradshaw launches the ball and begins a thirty-yard sprint from behind the line of scrimmage downfield to block for the Frenchman in case he completes the pass. Fuqua and Raiders' safety, Jack Tatum, collide at midfield and ball rebounds into the air. With uncanny grace, Harris snags the ball from the air, which was now mere inches from the paint marking the Raiders 42, and points himself at the end zone without even missing a beat. Jimmy Warren makes a grab, but Harris strong arms him to the turf and crosses into the end zone unabated for the game-winning touchdown. Those who were lucky enough to witness Franco's "Immaculate Reception" that day at Three Rivers Stadium, will not soon forget the amazing combination of skill, talent and luck that they had privy to.
In 1975 Harris became the first player in pro football history to rush for over 4,000 yards in his first four seasons, that year he rushed for 1,246 yards, which at the time was second best in the NFL and highest ever for a Steeler. Over the course of 13 seasons, Harris rushed for 2,949 times for 12,120 yards and 91 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,000 yards or more eight times and for more than 100 yards in 47 games. He also caught 307 passes for 2,287 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Franco Harris was an all-AFC choice in 1972, 1975 and 1977. He also earned all-pro honors in 1977. He played in eight pro bowls and missed a ninth because of an injury. Harris rushed for 158 yards, compared to just 17yards rushing for the entire Vikings team. He was named the game's most valuable player.
Harris had 47- one hundred yard games putting him in third place. He is the number 2 all-time rushing leader in NFL history, and is credited for running for 11,950 yards over the course of his career. When Franco Harris left the NFL after his 1984 season he had a total of one hundred touchdowns under his belt
REGULAR SEASON - RUSHING STATS
YEAR GAMES ATT YARDS AVG TD
1972 13 188 1055 5.6 10
1973 12 188 698 3.7 3
1974 12 208 1006 4.8 5
1975 14 262 1246 4.8 10
1976 14 289 1128 3.9 14
1977 14 300 1162 3.9 11
1978 16 310 1082 3.5 8
1979 15 267 1186 4.4 11
1980 13 208 789 3.8 4
1981 16 242 987 4.1 7
1982 9 140 604 4.3 2
1983 16 279 1007 3.6 5
1984 8 68 170 2.5 0
TOTALS 172 2949 12120 4.1 91
POST SEASON-RUSHING STATS
(Including Super Bowls)
YEAR GAMES ATT YARDS AVG TD
1972 2 34 140 4.1 0
1973 1 10 29 2.9 0
1974 3 87 343 3.9 6
1975 3 81 314 3.9 2
1976 1 18 132 7.3 0
1977 1 28 92 3.3 1
1978 3 64 223 3.5 4
1979 3 62 214 3.5 3
1982 1 10 35 3.5 0
1983 1 6 33 5.5 0
TOTALS 19 400 1555 3.9 16
SUPER BOWL - RUSHING STATS
YEAR S.B. ATT YARDS AVG TD
1974 IX 34 158 4.6 1 (MVP)
1975 X 27 82 3.0 0
1978 XIII 20 68 3.4 1
1979 XIV 20 46 2.3 2
TOTALS 4 101 354 3.5 4