Considered one of the greatest running backs in professional football history, Franco Harris (1950–2022) played 13 seasons in the National Football League, winning four Super Bowl championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s.

He became a football legend when he scooped up a deflected pass and ran for the winning touchdown in a 1972 playoff victory. Dubbed the “Immaculate Reception,” that play became one of the most celebrated in the annals of the sport, and it launched the Steelers dynasty.

The New Jersey native played college football at Penn State University before being selected by the Steelers in the 1972 NFL draft, and during his career he rushed for more than 12,000 yards. Known for his consistency, strength, and leadership, he was selected for multiple Pro Bowls, voted Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IX, and earned widespread respect from teammates and opponents alike.

After retiring from football, the sports icon remained in Pittsburgh, establishing himself as a successful entrepreneur and a prominent and beloved civic leader, heavily involved in charitable causes. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, but when he passed away just days before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, he left a legacy that extended beyond football.