Steelers’ Franco Harris’ Awesome Arrival in 1972 That Began A Dynasty Almost Did Not Happen

Harris won the 1972 AP and UPI Rookie of the Year Award as he rushed for over 1,000 yards (the only rookie in Steelers history with a 1,000-yard season until Najee Harris in 2021) and 10 TD’s. Even more impressive is how Harris achieved such an impressive campaign starting only 10 games. With injuries and splitting carries with Preston Pearson, it limited Harris to only 26 carries in the season’s first four games.

The impact of Harris was not limited to great individual production. In the 39-year history of the franchise, the Steelers had never won a championship of any kind. With only a handful of winning seasons and 1 playoff berth, the Steelers never won before the arrival of Franco Harris. Since his arrival, the Steelers went 11-3 and won the AFC Central Division for the first time.

It didn’t take long for Harris’ teammates to notice how special he was.

Joe Greene, per America’s Game, The 1974 Steelers:

“We played a game, I think it was in Atlanta. It was a preseason game. And Franco runs up to the line. Looked like he stops and maybe scratches his head. ‘What am I gonna do now?’ All of a sudden, he takes off.

And I said, ‘Gee, we got one. We got one.'”

Franco Harris per America’s Game, The 1974 Steelers:

“1972 was like magic. It was like the whole town was waiting for this forever.”

The Steelers fans had suffered for so long and it seemed like every player had their own fan club. Perhaps the most famous and popular was “Franco’s Italian Army.” The fans of Steeler Nation were enamored with the rookie Harris that it took the city by storm. Everyone wanted to be a part, including the one and only “Chairman of the Board” Frank Sinatra himself.

What is almost inconceivable is that Chuck Noll initially did not want to draft Harris, and it took a Rooney and Art Rooney Jr., to convince the Steelers coach to go with the fullback from nearby Penn State. Artie (as he would be best known to go by), was consumed with his job and a desire to prove to his father that he was worthy—and to everyone else that he wasn’t merely a product of nepotism—worked indefatigably, traveling the country for much of the year. He was both stubborn and socially insecure, which meant that when he formed opinions, he would defend them so strongly, he would often grow truculent if Noll didn’t agree with him.

Ahead of the ’72 draft, both Noll and Artie viewed an explosive running back as a first-round priority, but they differed on which player might be the best fit. Noll had his eye on Robert Newhouse, a diminutive, dynamic back whose outsized effort and wide range of skills made him the key player in the offense at the University of Houston. Artie, though, was convinced that the player the Steelers wanted was Franco Harris, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound fullback who was splitting carries with the faster, more explosive, Lydell Mitchell at Penn State.

There were questions about Harris, including some concerns about his character, which concerned Noll greatly. He was known to be moody and standoffish, and Noll truly was a fan of Newsome’s reputation of an overachiever. Artie convinced Noll to look forward with the decision, not at who the running back is now, but what player they are going to be.

The moment of decision came and the Steelers were up to pick with both running backs on the board. The room got quiet. All of the discussion and debate came down to the final moment when Noll made his decision. The extended pause ended when Noll exhaled and uttered the decisive decision.

Chuck Noll per His Life’s Work by Michael McCambridge:

“Well, let’s go with the Penn Stater.”

And with that, Franco Harris became a Pittsburgh Steeler and the franchise would go on to become the greatest and most successful franchise in the NFL.