Franco Harris: “I always say that the Immaculate Reception was the biggest play in Steelers history and beating the Raiders in the ’74 Championship game was the biggest game in Steelers history. The Immaculate Reception gave us the winning attitude we didn’t have before. The ’74 game – when we won that and went to the Super Bowl – we knew then that we were the best team in the NFL. The ’72 win was about attitude. the ’74 win was when we knew we were the best. I was nervous that entire game until the final whistle blew!”
Barry Pearson: “I was the one who brought in the play for the Immaculate Reception. The play call was half-right, split opposite 66 out end in – it was supposed to go to me but the line broke down on the right side and forced Bradshaw to move to his left. He couldn”t throw acros the field of course, so and he had to throw in desperation to Frenchy. I was wide open too – the play was only meant to get a first down.
It was fourth and ten and there was still over a minute left – there was plenty of time to move the ball and try to score later. No one expected Franco to pick up the ball and score a touchdown! That’s one play I will never forget.”
John McMakin: “Well, I was in the middle of the Immaculate Reception of course. Less than a minute left… On third down Terry threw a pass to me after I ran a hook pattern about 15 yards downfield, but Jack Tatum broke that pass up. On fourth down I ran a post and Frenchy ran the hook out of the backfield. I looked back and saw Tatum run into Frenchy and had a great view of Franco picking the ball out of the air. I blocked out Villapiano who still complains I clipped him, but that isn’t true! I call it the Immaculate Obstruction!”
Tony Dungy: “When I was a kid I remember watching the Immaculate Reception and thinking how lucky that play was for the Steelers. Well, when I got to the Steelers I watched Franco practice. Every play they ran from the forty yard line he’d always run the ball into the endzone. If he didn’t have the ball he’d always sprint to where the ball was. That’s when I realized it wasn’t luck. The ball happened to bounce up but that was what Franco and all the backs did on every play in practice. They practiced and played at one-hundred percent all of the time.”
Tim Rooney: “I remember in 1972, when we played Oakland in the Immaculate Reception game. If we won, I had a flight scheduled for right after the game to advance scout the Miami-Cleveland game. Miami won of course and beat us the following week. But I remember when the Immaculate Reception happened, I was sitting next to Art Rooney Jr. We didn’t know what to do after Franco made the play. But right after it Art leaned back his chair and leaned back down and the chair landed on my foot. There was a spike on the chair leg and it went right through my shoe. But I had to catch my flight – so I had to run to the airport with a bloody foot and hole in my shoe! I had no time to get a new shoe or get it bandaged!
That’s the life of a scout!”
Bob Adams: “The best memories of those teams include beating the Raiders in the Immaculate Reception game, of course. I was standing on the sidelines when most in the stadium thought it was all over when Franco took off with the deflection and ran right past me, Rocky and Warren Bankston and down to the end zone. We stood there not knowing what to think.
When I saw no yellow flags, we all sprinted into the end zone to grab Franco. None of knew at the time Mr. Rooney was in the locker room to tell the team we played well and just ran out of time. He did not know we had suddenly in the last seconds. What a start for a dynasty.”
Tom O’Malley: “Well of course the Al Davis incident. After the Immaculate Reception he was furious. He said the reception shouldn’t count. I don’t know why I said it, but I told him ‘The ref said it didn’t hit an offensive player!’ After, I thought, “What the hell am I doing yelling at Al Davis!” No one said anything to me after though.”
J.T. Thomas: “I had no idea I was going to Pittsburgh. Ironically, I was watching the Immaculate Reception game in Palo Alto at the East West Shrine game. We were watching the game at a restaurant and just to be different and controversial I bet the guys around me thirty dollars each that the Steelers would win. Keep in mind I had less than $100 in my pocket and it was a $900 bet! When they were losing I tried to sneak out (laughing) but the sous chefs there were as big as linemen and they saw me and told everyone not to let me leave. They put a chair to the door!
All of the sudden, there goes Franco. I was never so excited about a football game! I got two cooking swords and pots from the kitchen and stood on the chair banging the pots, telling them no one can leave until I got my money!”
Joe Bushofsky: “I was given a pass to the Oakland-Steelers playoff game and I was at the railing when Franco caught the Immaculate Reception and took it to the house (touchdown). That is a moment that I will always remember. “
Ben McGee: “I told Chuck right before the Raiders playoff game I was going to retire. He didn’t say anything to me.
That was the Immaculate Reception game – Franco scored and we won. Before his catch I took off my shoulder pads and jersey – I thought we lost. Then Franco caught the pass and scored and I said “Lord, I have one more game!”
After the game Chuck came up to me and said “Ben. you shocked me. If you change your mind let me know.” But I didn’t change my mind. Since we won, I went on and played against Miami the next week – I thought the Raiders game would be the last one – that we’d lose. But we lost against Miami- that was the year they went undefeated. That was the last game I played.”
James Campbell (Game Day Assistant): “I became friends too with Ray Mansfield. He was a character. I was standing next to him when the Immaculate Reception happened. We both turned to each other and said “I saw it but I don’t expletive believe it!” Then we decided we needed to run to the end zone to get into the pictures. I remember watching him run to the sidelines looking back to make sure he got in the shots. Then running further to make sure again as he looked back! He was a fantastic guy – it was sad to lose him so early.”
Billy Gardell: “When the Immaculate Reception happened the city took on that personality and the team took on the personality of the fans. Play ’til the whistle blows mindset. It enchanted the city and the players saw they were connected to the personality of the city. That we are all here for the guy next to me – that nose-down, work hard work ethic, If you do that you never know what can happen.”
John Brown: “My last year was the Immaculate Reception. I was on the sidelines and could see Franco out of nowhere grab the ball and then watched him run it all the way. That was the beginning of the change for the Steelers.”
Craig Dunaway: “The NFL was the big time. I was a huge Steelers fan. My dad and I had seen the Immaculate Reception in person. The chance to play for Pittsburgh was a dream come true.”
Mike Mularkey: “As a kid growing up I always loved the Steelers – I’m not sure why. Maybe because I saw the Immaculate Reception and got fascinated by them then, “
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
