FRANCO HARRIS REACTION

Some of the reaction following the death of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris:

• “It is difficult to find the appropriate words to describe Franco Harris’ impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers, his teammates, the city of Pittsburgh and Steelers Nation. From his rookie season, which included the Immaculate Reception, through the next 50years, Franco brought joy to people on and off the field. He never stopped giving back in so many ways. He touched so many, and he was loved by so many.” — Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II

• “One of the kindest, gentlest men I have ever known. He was a great person & great teammate. Hall of Fame player but so much more than that. A tremendous role model for me!” — Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, a teammate of Harris’ in the late 1970s

• The minute I throw the ball, Franco takes off. And I ask him, ‘What made you run downfield.’ And he said at Penn State, Joe Paterno told the running backs that when the quarterback releases the ball, to run to the play. Run to the ball. And had he not been taught that by Paterno, he would not have released and gone downfield. And that’s exactly what he did, and that’s why he caught that pass.” — Retired QB Terry Bradshaw, who threw the ‘Immaculate Reception’ pass caught by Harris

• “Franco Harris is known for the glory he brought to football. But I knew him for his character and compassion – someone who spent time with my boys after we lost my first wife and infant daughter. May God bless Franco Harris, a dear friend of 50years and a great American.” — President Joe Biden

• “There’s so much to be learned from him in terms of how he conducted himself, how he embraced the responsibilities of being Franco for Steeler Nation, for this community. You know, for the Penn State followers. He embraced it all and did it with such grace and class and patience and time for people.” — Current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin

• “We did so many things together. I can’t remember all these things over the last 50years. It’s crazy. We were always doing the Immaculate Reception story and it got bigger and bigger. He would invite me to places he needed me. I would invite him to places I needed him and our friendship just grew and grew.” — Former Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano, who was covering Harris on the Immaculate Reception