Franco Harris turns 63 today. Franco Harris is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played all but one of his NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Franco Harris was the Steelers first round pick- the 13th player overall in the 1972 draft. At Penn State, Franco was mostly a blocking back for Lydell Mitchell. The Steelers would take Harris over Mitchell. Lydell Mitchell would end up having a pretty good career but he was no Franco. The Steelers coach Chuck Noll wanted to take Robert Newhouse with that pick-Newhouse would go to the Cowboys later in the draft. Newhouse was a fine player but no Franco.

Joe Paterno, Franco’s coach at Penn State was once asked “What is the difference between Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris? Paterno replied ‘If I asked Lydell Mitchell to run threw a brick wall, he would. If I asked Franco, he’d walk up to the wall, count the bricks and then run through the wall.”

Franco was an immediate success with the Steelers. Going into 1972 the Pittsburgh Steelers had not only never won a playoff game in their 40 year history they had never even PLAYED in a playoff game. That year the Steelers made the playoffs and no one will forget their first playoff game. Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception- won that game against the Oakland Raiders. It is the most famous play in NFL history. I’ve seen thousands of football games in my life. I have only seen one play like that- and that was it. Franco had a great rookie season.  He averaged 5.6 yards a carry-that would be his career best. I remember that rookie year people were comparing him to the great Jim Brown. After that season the comparisons ended. Franco never had that breakaway speed again after the rookie year. He was injured a lot during season 2. He would be a workhorse back for the Steelers. He was the Steelers offense for the first two Super Bowl championship seasons. Franco was a unique running back. He was a dancer. He also never took a hard hit. If he were running along the sidelines he would step out of bounds before getting hit instead of going for an extra yard. I saw Franco play his entire career and I can never remember him getting really wacked hard by a tackler. He could be frustrating to watch at times but then he’d get going and all would be fine. I’ve never seen another running back with Harris’ style. Franco never took a beating-and he played an incredible 13 seasons-running backs aren’t supposed to play that long-Franco did.

Franco made the Pro Bowl in his first 9 seasons with the Steelers. He played 12 seasons with the Steelers. Being a central part of 4 Super Bowl Championships. He was a member of the all decade team for the 1970’s. He went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He ran for 12,14o yards in his career. Was he one of the ten greatest running backs ever? No. I’ve seen a lot of running backs greater than Franco but Franco was perfect for the team he was on. He scored exactly 100 touchdowns in his career. He averaged 4.1 yards a carry.

Franco Harris it also should be noted-was a player who played his best in the big games. He was a monster in the playoffs and Super Bowls. One of the great ‘money’ running backs. He was a clutch player.

He finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks. I remember him in a Seahawk uniform. Didn’t look right. That was one thing Franco probably regretted. He was nearing the end of his career and he took the bad advice of his agent and held out. They ended up releasing him. He was at the end. He had little left. It’s a shame he didn’t finish as a Steeler but no one remembers his year with the Seahawks.

Franco still lives in Pittsburgh and has always been active in the community. He will always be loved by Steeler fans. He was my favourite Steeler in the 1970’s and there were a lot of great players to choose from.