If we’re being honest, Franco Harris was the standard for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That standard will have be upheld without him moving forward though, as Harris died Wednesday at 72 years old, just two days from the 50th Anniversary of arguably the greatest player in NFL history, the Immaculate Reception, and three days away from having his No. 32 jersey retired by the Steelers franchise, marking just the third player in the franchise’s illustrious history to be honored with a jersey retirement.
The news of Harris’ passing is rather shocking. The first-round pick in 1972 out of Penn State helped changed the trajectory of the Steelers right away as a rookie in the 1972 season with the Immaculate Reception against the then-Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium, giving the Steelers their first playoff win in franchise history, setting off a dynasty run in the 70s that made the black and gold the shining standard for professional football.