In interview hours before his death, Franco Harris says ‘Immaculate Reception’ play ‘blows my mind’

Fifty years after the “Immaculate Reception” and just hours before his death, Franco Harris said it “blows my mind” how he pulled off arguably the most memorable play in NFL history.

In a live interview Tuesday on “Mad Dog Unleashed” on SiriusXM radio, Harris recalled December 23, 1972, when he caught a deflected pass just before it hit the ground and ran for a playoff game-winning touchdown to lead his Pittsburgh Steelers over the Oakland Raiders.

Harris said his assignment was to block but he wound up going out for a pass when the fourth-down play broke down with 22 seconds left in the game.

“You know what, when I watch the film I can’t remember anything of the play past just leaving the backfield,” Harris told host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo. “But when I see the film, and I see it in real time, it just blows my mind how quick that is … And I have no idea how I reacted so quickly, and got it and kept in stride. And even looked up a little bit to try and get the lay of the land … I’m saying, ‘How did all that happen in just those few seconds?’ It didn’t make any sense. Like, I just don’t understand it.”

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers' Franco Harris (32) eludes a tackle by Oakland Raiders' Jimmy Warren as he runs 42-yards for a touchdown after catching a deflected pass during an AFC Divisional NFL football playoff game in Pittsburgh on Dec. 23, 1972. Harris died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 21, 2022, at age 72, just two days before the 50th anniversary of The Immaculate Reception. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck, File)

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris, known for 'Immaculate Reception,' dead at age 72

Harris died just days before the 50th anniversary of the catch, and the Steelers had planned to retire his No. 32 jersey during halftime of their game against the Raiders on Saturday.

The NFL Network in 2019 named the Immaculate Reception the top play in the 100 years of the league.

The play was not without controversy: There were no convincing replays to determine who deflected the ball when two opposing players collided and whether the ball actually hit the ground when Harris caught it.

In the interview, Russo said some believe that the nose of the football hit the turf, “But you’re saying that’s not the case, correct?”

“I have no idea, I have no idea,” Harris said. “I remember nothing. That’s what baffles me…”

Russo noted Harris was “a long way away from where the ball ricocheted.” If another Steeler had touched the ball, Harris’ catch would not have been legal.

“I have no recollection of seeing the ball at all,” Harris said. “I have no visual of the ball. I have no recollection. But look at … how fast it came back.”

‘You don’t practice stuff like this’

Looking at the film, Harris says, “I’m thinking that it could only have been” Raiders defender Jack Tatum “that the ball bounced off of” before Harris made the shoestring catch. Tatum had collided with Steelers fullback Frenchy Fuqua.

In explaining how he made the play, Harris noted that he “always had great reflexes but you don’t practice stuff like this. … So it kind of blows my mind.”

The Steelers won the game 13-7 for the team’s first-ever playoff victory but lost their next game. Still, the team went on to dominate the 1970s, winning four Super Bowls.

Russo, the host, opened the interview by asking, “How are you today, OK pal?” It was likely the last interview Harris did before his death was announced on Wednesday. His cause of death was not provided.

“Doing great. Fantastic,” Harris said, though he was coughing here and there. “And, like as you said, 50 years ago, and, and it still feels brand new.”

Harris then went on to talk about the game-winning drive, how it started off poorly and left the Steelers in a desperate spot.

“So, things didn’t go too well on those first three plays, as you know. And then it gets down to fourth down. A long way to go. 22 seconds.

And I go into the huddle and I tell myself, ‘Franco, this will probably be the last play of the season. It was a good season. Just play it till the end.’

And (the coach) called that 66 halfback option.”

Harris’ assignment was to stay in and block.

He recalled that “there wasn’t much … adrenaline” in the huddle.

We were winning the whole game and right at the end (the Raiders) scored. It seemed more of a letdown than anything.”

Harris joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1984.

Russo noted that Harris “did block well” on the play and noticed that quarterback Terry Bradshaw was scrambling under pressure from the defense.

“My thought was to release to be an outlet pass,” Harris said. “And Bradshaw, being as, you know, big and as strong as he is, you know, guys trying to bring him down, he’s able to fight them off and get the ball into the air.”

Harris said when the ball was in the air, “I tell myself, right, I tell myself ‘Go to the ball, go to the ball.’”

Harris said that was his instinct because that was what he was taught as a running back in college, under Joe Paterno at Penn State University.

“That’s what Joe preached to us all four years at Penn State. You know, always go to the ball … And so I start taking some steps to the ball and I remember nothing after that… which blows my mind, that I have no visual, no recollection of anything until I am stiff arming (Raiders defender) Jimmy Warren, going into the end zone.”

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Country singer Mickey Gilley, best known as the pioneer of the "urban cowboy" style, died May 7, his publicist Zach Farnum said. He was 86. Gilley had 17 No. 1 country records, starting with "Room Full of Roses" in 1974.

Mike Hagerty, a character actor known for his roles in shows like "Friends" and films like "Overboard," died at the age of 67, according to his family on May 5. Through the years, Hagerty amassed a long list of TV guest roles, primarily in comedies, but also in dramas such as "ER" and "Deadwood."

Country music legend Naomi Judd — one half of the duo The Judds — died at the age of 76, her daughter Ashley announced on April 30. Naomi and her daughter Wynonna began singing together as a professional act in the early 1980s, eventually producing a string of major hits, including "Mama He's Crazy" and "Love Can Build a Bridge."

Andrew Woolfolk, a longtime member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire whose sweet signature instrument made songs like "September" impossible not to dance to, died on April 25, group member Philip Bailey announced. Woolfolk was 71.

Johnnie Jones Sr., a decorated World War II veteran and pioneering civil rights lawyer, died at the age of 102, according to the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs on April 25.

Former US Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the longest-serving Republican senator in US history, died April 23 at the age of 88. Hatch served in the chamber for 42 years, from 1977 to 2019.

Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur died at age 70, the Montreal Canadiens announced on April 22. Lafleur, nicknamed "The Flower," was a five-time Stanley Cup champion with the Canadiens. He scored 560 goals and had 793 assists during his NHL career.

Robert Morse, a Broadway star best known to TV viewers as "Mad Men" boss Bertram Cooper, died April 20 at the age of 90. Appearing on Broadway since the mid-1950s, Morse originated the role of the enterprising J. Pierrepont Finch in 1961's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," winning a Tony Award for his performance.

Adelia "Dede" Robertson, wife of televangelist Pat Robertson and founding board member of the Christian Broadcasting Network, died April 19 at the age of 94.

DJ Kay Slay, an influential member of the New York hip-hop scene whose raucous mixtapes became legendary, died from Covid-19 complications, his family confirmed in a statement on April 18. He was 55. Kay Slay, whose real name was Keith Grayson, had been a star since the early 1990s, when mixtapes he produced featured up-and-comers and superstar rappers like Jay-Z and, later, Eminem.

Arthur Rupe, a record producer and 2011 inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, died on April 15, according to a statement from the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation. He was 104. Rupe is credited with launching the career of Little Richard and helped make R&B a mainstream genre of music, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Liz Sheridan, a veteran stage and screen actress who played Jerry Seinfeld's mother, Helen, on "Seinfeld," died on April 15, her manager and friend Amanda Hendon confirmed to CNN. She was 93.

Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy died at the age of 65, the New York Islanders announced on April 15. Bossy, a four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Islanders, is the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 573 goals.

Former Colombia soccer captain Freddy Rincón died on April 14 after being involved in a car crash in Cali, Colombia, the hospital treating him said in a statement. Rincón, 55, played in three World Cups and scored 17 goals in 84 games for Colombia.

Star bodybuilder Cedric McMillan, seen here being interviewed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, died at the age of 44, his sponsor confirmed on April 12. McMillan won multiple titles during his career, including the 2017 Arnold Classic. No further details were released about his death.

Shirley Spork, a trailblazing figure for women's golf who was one of the founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, died at the age of 94, the organization said on April 12.

Gilbert Gottfried, a comedian and actor with a distinctly memorable voice, died after a long illness, his family announced on April 12. He was 67.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins was struck and killed by a dump truck on April 9 while trying to cross a highway on foot in South Florida, police said. Haskins, 24, had played for Ohio State and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Bobby Rydell, a teen idol from the '60s known for songs like "Wild One" and his role as Hugo Peabody in the 1963 film "Bye Bye Birdie," died on April 5, according to a statement released by his representatives. He was 79.

Estelle Harris, the actress known for playing George Costanza's mother on "Seinfeld," died on April 2, her agent told CNN. She was 93.

Tom Parker, a member of the British boy band The Wanted, died at the age of 33, his wife and bandmates shared on March 30. In October 2020, Parker announced that he'd been diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain tumor.

Paul Herman, an actor known for his roles in "The Sopranos," "Goodfellas" and "The Irishman," died March 29 at the age of 76.

Taylor Hawkins, the golden-locked musician who for more than two decades was the drummer for Foo Fighters, died at the age of 50, the band said on March 25. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as US secretary of state, died of cancer at age 84, her family announced in a statement on March 23. Albright was a central figure in President Bill Clinton's administration and helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War.

Longtime NFL reporter John Clayton, who was known as "The Professor" because of his encyclopedic knowledge of the game, died March 18, according to ESPN, where he was an analyst, and Seattle Sports, where he hosted a radio show. Clayton was 67.

US Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican and the longest-serving member of the current Congress, died March 18, according to a statement from his office. He was 88.

Former pro wrestler Scott Hall, a WWE Hall of Famer who reached stardom as "Razor Ramon" during the heyday of his career in the 1990s, died at the age of 63, the WWE said on March 14.

Stephen Wilhite, the developer who created GIFs in the late '80s and transformed the way we communicate on the internet, died on March 14. His wife, Kathaleen, told CNN that he died from complications of Covid-19. He was 74.

William Hurt, the Oscar-winning star of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Big Chill" and "Broadcast News," died on March 13, his son Will told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 71. Hurt played a variety of roles in classic 1980s films, including "Body Heat" and "Children of a Lesser God."

Singer Traci Braxton, who also starred on the reality series "Braxton Family Values," died of esophageal cancer on March 12. She was 50.

Emilio Delgado, who played the Fix-It Shop owner Luis on "Sesame Street," died on March 10, according to his manager. He had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in 2020, according to a report from TMZ, citing his wife. Delgado was 81.

Australian cricketer Shane Warne, widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, died March 4 at the age of 52, his management company confirmed to CNN. Warne was one of cricket's most lethal bowlers, with 708 Test wickets to his name. That's the most ever for an Australian and the second-most of all time.

Elsa Klensch, who was among the first to bring fashion to TV screens with CNN's "Style with Elsa Klensch" in the 1980s, died on March 4. She was 92. For two decades, Klensch gave CNN viewers a front-row seat to runways all over the world, including New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Actor Johnny Brown, who played building superintendent Nathan Bookman on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times," died on March 2, according to his daughter, Sharon Brown. He was 84.

Sally Kellerman, the prolific Oscar-nominated actress who played Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan in the 1970 film "M*A*S*H," died on February 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which cited her son. She was 84.

Mark Lanegan, a leader within Seattle's grunge music scene and frontman of the influential group Screaming Trees, died February 22 at the age of 57, his family and friends confirmed on his verified Twitter account. Though he often downplayed his contributions to indie rock, the gravelly voiced Lanegan helped usher in a new era for the genre that saw many of his collaborators soar to international fame.

Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur best known for founding media platform SBTV, died February 20 at the age of 31. His mother confirmed that her son died from a "sudden illness." Edwards got into the music scene at the age of 15 and was a pioneering figure in British rap and grime music.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Taylor died at the age of 80, the Washington Commanders announced on February 19. Taylor retired in 1977 as the NFL's all-time leading receiver. His record of 649 receptions for 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns would stand until 1984.

Indian singer and composer Bappi Lahiri, who lent his talent to Indian cinema for nearly 50 years, died February 15 at the age of 69, according to a statement from his doctor. Lahiri, who was fondly referred to as "India's Disco King," was known for his love of 1970s-inspired dance beats. His signature hits, including the 1982 smash "Disco Dancer" from the Bollywood movie of the same name, helped to infuse Indian cinema with a lively, more contemporary sound.

Ivan Reitman, a storied producer and director behind some of Hollywood's biggest comedies, died on February 13, according to the CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. He was 75. Reitman created some of the most enduring comedic films of the '80s and '90s, including 1984's "Ghostbusters," which he produced and directed.

Former Major League Baseball player Jeremy Giambi died at the age of 47, a few of his former teams announced on February 9. The cause of death was not released.

Singer Lata Mangeshkar, the "nightingale of India" who gave her voice to Indian movies for more than 70 years, died on February 6, according to her doctor. She was 92.

Bill Fitch, a Hall of Fame basketball coach who won the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics in 1981, died February 2 at the age of 89.

Italian cinema star Monica Vitti died February 2 at the age of 90, according to Italian politician and family friend Walter Veltroni. Vitti was well-known for her work with some of Italy and Europe's most influential filmmakers throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died on January 30, said her family and the New York Police Department, which is investigating her death. She was 30. Kryst was an attorney who sought to help reform America's justice system, and she was a fashion blogger and entertainment news correspondent. She was crowned Miss USA in 2019.

Actor Howard Hesseman, best known as the hard-rocking disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died on January 29, according to his manager, Robbie Kass. Hesseman died from complications related to colon surgery, Kass told CNN. He was 81.

Legendary Mexican-Argentinian singer Diego Verdaguer died at the age of 70, his family announced in a statement on January 28. Verdaguer first achieved international success in 1975, when his song "Volveré" ("I'll Be Back") became a hit in Mexico and went on to sell more than 5 million copies.

Actor Vachik Mangassarian, a character actor who appeared on "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "The Mentalist," died of Covid-19 complications, his manager told CNN on January 27. He was 78.

Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, died on January 23, according to a family spokesman. He was 102. McGee successfully completed 409 air combat missions across three wars — World War II, Korea, and Vietnam — and he received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, whose flamboyant creations transformed haute couture, died January 23 at the age of 73, according to a message posted to his official Instagram account.

Clark Gillies, a Hall of Fame hockey player and four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders, died on January 21, according to the National Hockey League. He was 67.

Louie Anderson, an Emmy Award-winning actor who also spent part of his career as a stand-up comic and game-show host, died January 21 from complications related to cancer, his publicist Glenn Schwartz confirmed to CNN. Anderson was 68.

Meat Loaf, the larger-than-life singer whose 1977 record "Bat Out of Hell" is one of the best-selling albums of all time, died January 20 at the age of 74, according to a statement from his family on his verified Facebook page. In pictures: Rock 'n' roll legend Meat Loaf

André Leon Talley, the former longtime creative director for Vogue and a fashion icon in his own right, died January 18 at the age of 73, according to a statement on his official Instagram account. Talley was a pioneer in the fashion industry, a Black man in an often insular world dominated by White men and women.

French actor Gaspard Ulliel, best known for playing Hannibal Lecter in "Hannibal Rising," died after a skiing accident on January 18. He was 37.

Lusia "Lucy" Harris, a college basketball star during the 1970s and the first and only woman ever to be officially drafted by an NBA team, died on January 18, according to a statement from her family and Delta State University. She was 66. Harris led Delta State to three national championships from 1975-1977.

Steve Schapiro, an acclaimed photojournalist perhaps best known for his work documenting the civil rights movement, died January 15 at the age of 87. Schapiro was also known for his portraits of some of the world's biggest celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, David Bowie and Barbra Streisand.

Ralph Emery, a legendary radio and television personality in the world of country music, died January 15 at the age of 88, according to the Country Music Association.

Ronnie Spector, the leader of pop group The Ronettes and the powerful central voice of hits like "Be My Baby" and "Baby I love You," died on January 12, her family announced in a statement on her website. She was 78.

Clyde Bellecourt, a leader in the Native American struggle for civil rights and a founder of the American Indian Movement, died on January 11, his wife Peggy Bellecourt told the Star Tribune. He was 85.

Deon Lendore, an Olympic and world championship medalist from Trinidad and Tobago, died in a car accident in Texas on January 10. He was 29.

Don Maynard, a Hall of Fame football player known for helping the New York Jets win Super Bowl III, died January 10 at the age of 86. At the time of his retirement in 1973, Maynard's career receptions (633) and yards receiving (11,834) were league records. He also amassed 10,000 yards receiving before any other pro player.

Bob Saget, the comedian and actor who played wholesome patriarch Danny Tanner on the sitcom "Full House," was found dead in an Orlando hotel room on January 9, his family confirmed in a statement to CNN. He was 65.

Michael Lang, co-creator of the Woodstock music festival, died January 8 at the age of 77.

Award-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman died January 8 at the age of 93. Along with Alan Bergman, her husband and longtime collaborator, Bergman was nominated for 16 Academy Awards over the course of her career and won three. One was for the song "The Way We Were," from the 1973 film that starred Barbra Streisand.

Sidney Poitier, whose elegant bearing and principled onscreen characters made him Hollywood's first Black movie star, died at the age of 94, it was reported on January 7. In pictures: Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier

Lani Guinier, a legal scholar and champion for voting rights who was once nominated to be assistant attorney general by then-President Bill Clinton, died on January 7, her cousin, Sherrie Russell-Brown, confirmed to CNN. She was 71.

Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated director of movies such as "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon," died on January 6. He was 82.

College Football Hall of Famer Ross Browner, a two-time All-American at Notre Dame and a 10-year NFL veteran, died January 6 at the age of 67. Browner, a defensive lineman, started all four seasons at Notre Dame, winning national championships in 1973 and 1977 and setting several school records.

South Korean actress Kim Mi-soo died at the age of 29, her agency, Landscape Entertainment, announced on January 5. The budding TV star and model appeared in the Disney+ series "Snowdrop" and Netflix's "Hellbound."

Kenyan paleoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey, who unearthed evidence that helped prove humankind evolved in Africa, died January 2 at the age of 77.

Dan Reeves, a former NFL running back and head coach, died January 1 at the age of 77. Reeves coached 23 seasons in the NFL and was twice named Coach of the Year.

People we've lost in 2022

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Some old-time Raiders still salty

Harris noted how important it was that he didn’t dive for the ball. In those days when a player hits the ground while possessing the ball, he was officially down and could not advance it.

“How lucky am I that I was conscious that, you know, catch it that low without diving for it,” Harris said.

Harris said that after the players collided and the ball deflected into the air, some of the Raiders started to clap and celebrate.

“And the Raiders stop, just for a few seconds, and that few seconds that they stopped gave me the head start to get into the end zone.”

All these years later, when some old-time Raiders still assert that the catch wasn’t a legal catch, Harris says he pays it no mind.

“As a matter of fact,” Harris said, “I feel good that they’re still sulking about that.”