The Steelers found a unique way to honor the late, great Franco Harris on Christmas Eve just days after his death at 72.
The entire Pittsburgh team wore Harris' jersey ahead of their Saturday night game against the Raiders.
The Steelers released a video that showed many of their stars — including Mike Tomlin, T.J. Watt and Kenny Pickett — arriving at Acrisure Stadium. All of them were clad in the iconic No. 32 jersey.
Paying homage to Franco. pic.twitter.com/RyxWnESFkS
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 24, 2022
TSN ARCHIVES: 'The Immaculate Reception' as The Sporting News covered it (Jan. 6, 1973, issue)
The Steelers were praised universally for their decision to honor Harris in such a fashion. Many NFL fans and media personalities voiced their support of the move on Twitter.
Man, this is cool. https://t.co/Dljyik35KV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2022
#32Forever pic.twitter.com/7JaAKXSYsy
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 24, 2022
All @Steelers players are arriving to tonight’s game in a Franco Harris jersey. Really cool gesture by the team.pic.twitter.com/96QRSNT3ew
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 24, 2022
Honoring the Legend. #32Forever pic.twitter.com/Yg2eJyl62L
— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) December 24, 2022
#Steelers players are arriving in Franco Harris jerseys to the #Raiders game 🙏🙏, awesome. https://t.co/iS2kOPoghF
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 24, 2022
What an awesome tribute by the Steelers to honor Franco Harris 💛🖤 https://t.co/WcnrT19Kgd
— Jenna Harner (@JennaHarner11) December 24, 2022
Honoring #FrancoHarris pic.twitter.com/c03XWqREzr
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) December 24, 2022
This is awesome. Paying tribute to Franco Harris. ❤️ via @steelers pic.twitter.com/1Hpg8P7AKh
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 24, 2022
The Steelers are set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception" during Saturday's game. The play — which saw Harris catch a deflected pass and take it to the end-zone for a game-winning touchdown — is regarded as one of the greatest plays in NFL history and the best of his career.
The Steelers are also set to retire Harris' jersey at Saturday night's game. That will make him just the third player in team history to have his jersey retired, joining defensive lineman Ernie Stautner (No. 75) and Hall of Famer "Mean" Joe Greene (No. 70).
Harris was originally expected to attend the game before his unexpected death. He may not be in attendance, but the Steelers are doing everything they can to make sure that his presence is felt on Saturday night.
