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Steelers Immortalize Franco Harris

The Pittsburgh Steelers made Franco Harris' No. 32 a permanent part of Acrisure Stadium.
Stephen Thompson|
Steelers Immortalize Franco Harris
Steelers Immortalize Franco Harris

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Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- Franco Harris's remarkable career with Pittsburgh Steelers began in a humble place. Before he was a Hall of Famer, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time Super Bowl Champion, he was a rookie without a ride to practice every day. 

Harris would ride the bus or bum rides from his teammates, desperately seeking out any way he could to get to work. That was who Franco was to his teammates - humble in the face of immense talent and driven beyond all belief. That's what fellow Steelers running back Rocky Bleier remembered about Harris when his jersey became a permanent part of Arisure Stadium. 

“Franco came in very unassuming running back out of Penn State, but he had an ethic about him," Bleier said. 

With his family, many former teammates in attendance - from Joe Green to Mel Blount and more - along with hundreds of fans awaiting the start of the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Harris' No. 32 jersey was raised in the Steelers' Hall of Honor.  

Harris' play on the football field grew his celebrity in Pittsburgh but what he did as a citizen in Pittsburgh and his relentless positivity in all facets of life is what cemented his place in the city's history. 

"If it was sunny outside, he'd say 'That's good for the flowers, that's good for the earth,'" Harris' wife, Dana said. "If it was raining outside, he'd say 'That's good, it's beautiful outside, we needed the rain. There was no bad weather for Franco."

Harris eventually got his car when he won Rookie of the Year in 1972, much to the delight of his teammates. But he maintained that same humility and passion for the success of the franchise. Harris' arrival in Pittsburgh was a turning point in the team's history and the Steelers ensured that the memory of his life and work is a permanent part of their home on the North Shore. 

“These are the memories of the 70’s," Bleier said, Of a change, of an Immaculate Reception, of a person of integrity that led us quietly through that time.”

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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