Franco Harris, Hall of Fame Steelers running back dies at 72

CBS News Baltimore

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Legendary Steelers running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris has died.

Harris' death has been confirmed to KDKA-TV by his family.

The four-time Super Bowl champion and 9-time Pro Bowler was drafted by the Steelers with the 13th overall pick in 1972 after playing for Joe Paterno at Penn State.

During his illustrious NFL career, Harris rushed for over 11,000 yards with the Steelers, the leading rusher in team history, also having been named the MVP of Super Bowl IX.

Franco Harris #32, Running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the NFL/AFC Divisional playoff game on 19 December 1976 at the Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The Steelers won the game 40 - 14. (Photo by Bob Grieser/Allsport/Getty Images)

Harris became part of history forever with his 'Immaculate Reception' at Three Rivers Stadium in the Divisional Round of the 1972 playoffs.

Harris does have a tie to the Baltimore area - back in 1997, he bought Baltimore-based Parks Sausage, the first African American owned company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange

The Parks Sausage plant is now the Dietz and Watson plant in northwest Baltimore.

A member of the Steelers Hall of Honor, Harris was set to have his #32 jersey retired by the team on Saturday, joining Ernie Stautner and Joe Greene as the only two other players in franchise history to have their numbers retired.

Harris was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Franco Harris was 72 years old.  

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