Franco Harris, a Hall of Fame running back for the Steelers known for one of the most famous plays, has died. Check out his cause of death.
Franco Harris : Death | Cause of death | Net worth
Harris was an American professional football player who played running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | March 7, 1950 Fort Dix, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died: | December 20, 2022 (aged 72) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) |
He was a key player in one of professional football’s most famous plays, dubbed the “Immaculate Reception” by Pittsburgh sportscaster Myron Cope.
After playing college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, he was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft, the 13th overall pick.
He played his first 12 years in the NFL with the Steelers; his 13th and final year was spent with the Seahawks. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Franco Harris death
Harris, whose heads-up thinking authored the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72.
The ball fluttered in the air and all but one of the 22 players on the Three Rivers Stadium turf on that cold December day 50 years ago essentially stopped.
The Pittsburgh Steelers running back kept right on going, the instincts that carried him through his life both on and off the field during his Hall of Fame career taking over, shifting the perception of a moribund franchise and a reeling region in the process.
The Steelers rarely won before his arrival in 1972. The moment his shoe-top grab eternally known as the “Immaculate Reception” entered the lexicon, they rarely lost.
Harris, whose heads-up thinking authored the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72. Harris’ son, Dok, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his father died overnight. No cause of death was given.
His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL’s elite, and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Harris had been busy in the run-up to the celebration, doing media interviews Monday to talk about a moment to which he is forever linked.
Franco Harris cause of death
Sources confirmed to Pittsburgh Action News 4, that Franco Harris, the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall-of-Famer died of natural causes at the age of 72, a few days before the 50th anniversary of Immaculate reception.
Tributes to Harris poured in on social media Wednesday morning.
“Franco Harris was so much more than just one play,” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg tweeted. “He was one of the great backs of his time, or any time, and the heartbeat of the offense of those legendary #Steelers teams. He was also as classy a gentleman as you could ever hope to meet. RIP Franco, thanks for the memories.”
Pennsylvania state Sen. Jay Costa offered his tribute.
“Franco’s legacy in our community will be forever one of joy, victory, and pride in the Steel City,” Costa tweeted. “Rest well, my friend.”
And from former NFL head coach Tony Dungy:
“Woke up this morning to the devastating news that my friend Franco Harris passed away during the night. One of the kindest, gentlest men I have ever known,” Dungy said. “He was a great person & great teammate. Hall of Fame player but so much more than that. A tremendous role model for me!”
Net worth
Franco Harris was an American professional football player who had a net worth of $3 million at the time of his death.
| Net Worth: | $3 Million |
| Date of Birth | Mar 7, 1950 – Dec 21, 2022 (72 years old) |
| Place of Birth | Fort Dix |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Profession | American football player |
| Nationality | United States of America |
Harris was the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1976. He was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and has been named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. Harris was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
His #32 jersey was retired and he is the Steelers All-Time Leader in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing attempts and is a member of the 10,000 Rushing Yards Club.
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