{"id":167787,"date":"2022-12-25T07:47:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-25T07:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/minus-the-big-man-steelers-retire-franco-harris-uniform-number-in-emotional-ceremony\/"},"modified":"2022-12-25T07:47:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-25T07:47:00","slug":"minus-the-big-man-steelers-retire-franco-harris-uniform-number-in-emotional-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/minus-the-big-man-steelers-retire-franco-harris-uniform-number-in-emotional-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Minus ‘the big man,’ Steelers retire Franco Harris’ uniform number in emotional ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"
In a ceremony that was as immaculate as the famous reception that spawned a Pro Football Hall of Fame career, the Pittsburgh Steelers retired the uniform number of the late Franco Harris on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The festivities, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, took on a somber tone because of Harris’ unexpected death earlier in the week at age 72.<\/p>\n
Harris’ wife Dana Dokmanovich and his son Franco \u201cDok\u201d Harris accompanied by team president Art Rooney II on the podium for the halftime ceremony of the Steelers’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n
Harris’ number was the third retired by the franchise.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn’t supposed to be like this,\u201d Rooney said, his voice cracking with emotion. \u201cThe big man was supposed to be standing here next to me. I would like to thank Dana and Doc for sharing Franco with us for the last 50 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flanked on each side of Rooney, Dana and Dok reached behind him and locked hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been said life will bring you sorrow and that it’s up to us to bring the joy,\u201d Rooney said. \u201cFranco brought us joy for 50 years. In recognition of his many contributions on and off the field, it’s my honor to declare No. 32 is officially retired.\u201d<\/p>\n
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As fans at Acrisure Stadium chanted \u201cFranco, Franco, Franco!\u201d in the 8-degree cold, Rooney II hugged Dokmanovich, who leaned on his shoulder for comfort.<\/p>\n
Gracing the field along with Rooney and the Harris family were more than a dozen Steelers players from the 1972 team that defeated the Oakland Raiders, 13-7, in a divisional playoff game thanks to Harris’ game-winning catch of a deflected pass.<\/p>\n
Those in attendance included Hall of Famers Joe Greene and Mel Blount, plus John \u201cFrenchy\u201d Fuqua, whose collision with Raiders safety Jack Tatum resulted in the deflection which led to Harris’ 60-yard touchdown in that playoff game 50 years ago.<\/p>\n
Blount, wearing his traditional cowboy hat, used a Terrible Towel to wipe a tear from his eye during the ceremony.<\/p>\n