Former NFL running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, Franco Harris, died aged on 72 on Wednesday. His death was confirmed to KDKA-TV by his family.
Harris’ legendary number 32 jersey was set to be retired on Friday, December 24, Saturday, on the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception” of 1972. His death just days before the event shocked his fans and the lovers of American football.
Also read: Franco Harris: cause of death, wife Dana Dokmanovich, net worth, Pittsburgh Steelers stats and more
Harris was in good shape just a few days before his fateful death.
He posted a photo on Instagram five days ago which showed the 72-year-old at a supermarket with a jar of snacks.
He is seen holding the jar in a football-catching pose and the caption to it read: “Look what I just caught! I still got it!”
The cause of Harris’ death is not yet known as his family did not reveal it immediately. There were no previous reports of the former running back suffering from any illnesses.
Also read: Who was Pete Harris, brother of Franco Harris who died of heart attack in 2009?
Back in 2006, Harri’s brother Pete Harris died of a heart attack which was a big shock to the family. The junior Harris was a college football player and was named in the All-American Safety in 1978 while playing for the Pennsylvania State University.
Since his death, tributes have poured in for the running back from both rival quarters and the Steelers.
“From there my love are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Franco Harris grew,” one user wrote on Twitter. “I’ve never wavered my love for this team & childhood sports hero. I had one as a kid, and I still have a Franco Harris jersey. Thank you Frank for being the player and the human being that you were.”
“I’m a New Englander through and through, and was born after that play, but as a kid in the early 80’s, my friends and I would try to recreate that play based on the NFL films we had seen. It was and is one of the most recognizable plays of all time. We all knew Franco Harris. RIP,” wrote another.
