Franco Harris (born March 7, 1950) was an American
football player.

Harris was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey. His
father, who was black, met his Italian mother in
Italy at the end of World War II. Harris went to
Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount
Holly, New Jersey, and then attended Penn State
University. While playing for the Penn State
Nittany Lions, Harris was the blocking back for
future Pro Bowl running back Lydell Mitchell. In
the 1972 draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh
Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection
overall. He played his first 12 years in the NFL
with the Steelers; his 13th and final year (1984)
was spent with the Seattle Seahawks. He was
inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
1990. Harris is 6 ft 2 in tall (1.8m) and weighs
225 lb (102 kg).

In his first season with the Steelers (1972),
Harris was named the league's rookie of the year
by both The Sporting News and United Press
International. In that season he gained 1,055
yards on 188 carries, with a 5.6 yards per carry
average. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns and
caught 3 touchdown passes.

Harris was the key to one of the most famous plays
in football, the Immaculate Reception, so dubbed
by Pittsburgh sportscaster Myron Cope. In a 1972
playoff game, the Oakland Raiders were leading the
Steelers by 7-6 with 22 seconds to play when a
Terry Bradshaw pass was deflected -- off of
Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum, the officials
ruled. Harris snatched the ball just before it hit
the ground and ran it in to win the game.

Harris was chosen for 9 consecutive Pro Bowls from
1972 through 1980, and was All-Pro in 1977. He
broke Jim Brown's record by rushing for more than
1,000 yards in 8 seasons. The tandem running
package of Harris and Vietnam veteran Rocky Bleier
combined with a strong defense to win four Super
Bowls in the 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 seasons.
In 1975 he was the Most Valuable player of Super
Bowl IX; in that game he rushed for 158 yards on
34 carries for a 16-6 win over the Minnesota
Vikings.

In his 13 professional seaso