NFL
What is the ‘Immaculate Reception’, made famous by Franco Harris?
On Christmas Eve, we will mark the 51st anniversary of one of the greatest plays in NFL history. We take a look at the Immaculate Reception.
One of the most iconic plays in NFL history, ‘The Immaculate Reception” is remembered as the beginning of the transformation of the Pittsburgh Steelers from gridiron minnows to one of the mightiest teams of all time. Before we go any further, watch it here, and the elation that follows.
Franco Harris was a key figure in what would become the mighty Steelers dynasty of the 1970s, notching up a total of 12,120 yards, and four Super Bowl rings. On Christmas Eve of 1972, trailing the Oakland Raiders with only seconds remaining, the most iconic moment in Steelers history, without a doubt, was when Terry Bradshaw threw a fourth down hail mary. Bradshaw scrambled back before throwing deep to running back Frenchy Fuqua. Fuqua took an immediate hard hit from safety Jack Tatum, resulting in the ball popping up and heading toward Harris.
Almost everyone came to a halt at that point, except Harris, who snatched the ball from the air and charged toward the end zone. It was the Steelers’ first playoff victory in franchise history, and etched it’s name in NFL history.
There was a long delay before touchdown was signalled due to confusion over the play’s legality. A rule at the time stated that unless a defender touched the ball, then an intended receiver was the only offensive player who was eligible on the play.
Two officials said that they saw Tatum touch the ball, but the others were not certain. The game’s referee Fred Swearingen asked to use a telephone and was taken to the baseball dugout (the field was shared at the time with the Pirates) and spoke to the NFL’s supervisor of officials, Art McNally, who approved the call of touchdown.
Because of the presence of a tv monitor in the dugout, it is often surmised that this may have been the first use of instant replay by the NFL to assist with a call, although this is disputed by the individuals involved.
“That play really represents our 1970s teams,” Harris said after the “Immaculate Reception” was voted the greatest play in NFL history for the league’s 100th anniversary season in 2020.
Harris passed away in 2022, just one week before the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest plays in football history.