The man who gave us the ‘Immaculate Reception’ will forever be remembered for not just his numbers but his character both on and off the field. As per Fox News, Franco Harris did a radio interview Tuesday, just hours before his death. He joined Chris “Mad dog” Russo on his radio show, where Harris said he was doing fantastic upon being asked how he was feeling.
Their fans lost a piece of themselves, no doubt, with the news now confirming that one of their greatest-ever players has passed away. So there are various questions speculating regarding his death, like how did he die and what is the real cause of his death? To get to know the reality behind his death, read the full article.
Who Was Franco Harris?
Harris was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950. He played college football at Penn State before the Steelers picked him with the 13th overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft. At the time, the Steelers were in the last stages of rebuilding.
“When (Noll) drafted Franco Harris, he gave the offense heart, discipline, desire, and the ability to win a championship in Pittsburgh,” said Lynn Swann, a Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver who often shared rooms with Franco Harris on team road trips.
It would be an understatement to say that Harris made a big difference right away. In 1972, he won the NFL’s Rookie of the Year award after running for a team record of 1,055 yards and ten touchdowns as a rookie.
At the same time, the Steelers made the playoffs for only the second time in the team’s history. Even though his father was African-American and his mother was Italian, he was popular with the city’s large Italian-American population. Harris was a humble person who always said that he was just a part of the Steelers as a whole.
How Did Franco Harris Die? Reality Behind His Death!
Franco Harris’s death was first reported by WTAE, a Pittsburgh-based news station. He died of natural causes, according to reports. But no official reason has been given for why he died. The Steelers coach, Mike Tomlin, told reporters about Harris’s historic catch on Tuesday.
He said, “I was in Section 135 that day. I was eight months old. I think it’s funny. Surprisingly, I’ve probably met 75,000 people that were there that day,” Tomlin said. “It’s just one of those beautiful things in the history of our game.”
What Were Franco Harris’s Major Achievements?
Harris was a big reason why Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls in six seasons in the 1970s. After getting picked 13th overall out of Penn State in 1972, he played his whole NFL career for the Steelers. Harris made his first of nine trips to the Pro Bowl in 1973. As a rookie, he ran for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns.
What Did Obama And The White House Say About Franco Harris’s Death?
Both current US President Joe Biden and former US President Barack Obama have said something about the death of Franco Harris. Both the current and former presidents used social media to remember the Pro Football Hall of Famer. Biden said that he had known Harris for a long time and that they had even played football together.
I grew up watching Franco Harris, and had the honor of getting to know him years later. He was an extraordinary man on and off the field, and will be missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and all of Steeler Nation.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 21, 2022
Joe Biden's statement on Franco Harris's passing. pic.twitter.com/zXYQadPbUF
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) December 21, 2022
“I knew him for his character and compassion,” Biden said, referring to someone who “spent time with my boys after we lost my first wife and infant daughter.” Meanwhile, Obama said he knew Harris off the field and liked him. “He was an extraordinary man,” Obama said before adding, “He will be missed.”
