Franco Harris Cause of Death, Age, Family, Net Worth – Franco Harris was an American professional football player who played running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League (NFL).
He was a key player in one of the most famous plays in professional football history, dubbed “The Immaculate Reception” by Pittsburgh sportscaster Myron Cope.
After playing college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, he was selected 13th overall by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He spent his first 12 years in the NFL with the Steelers before joining the Seahawks for his 13th and final season.
Harris attended Penn State University after graduating from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, in 1968.
While playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Harris primarily served as a blocker for All-American running back Lydell Mitchell, amassing 2,002 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns and an average of more than 5 yards per carry, while also catching 28 passes for 352 yards and another touchdown. In 1970, he led the team in scoring.
Harris was named the league’s Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Steelers (1972) by both The Sporting News and United Press International. He gained 1,055 yards on 188 carries that season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He also had 10 touchdown runs and four touchdown receptions.
His fans, which included “Brigadier General” Frank Sinatra, dubbed themselves “Franco’s Italian Army” and wore army helmets with his number on them.
Harris was selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls (1972-1980) and was named All-Pro in 1977. In eight seasons, Harris rushed for more than 1,000 yards, breaking Jim Brown’s record.
Following the 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 seasons, the running back tandem of Harris and Rocky Bleier combined with a strong defense to win four Super Bowls.
On January 12, 1975, he was named Super Bowl IX’s Most Valuable Player after rushing for 158 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries in a 16-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Harris and Lydell Mitchell, successful Penn State teammates, co-owned Super Bakery, a company founded in 1990 to produce nutrition-focused foods for schoolchildren. In 2006, the company was renamed RSuper Foods.
RSuper foods manufactures the Super Donut, which is served to students in public schools throughout the eastern United States of America.
Harris and Mitchell also collaborated in 1996 to save the Parks Sausage Company in Baltimore, the first African-American-owned business in the United States to go public.
Harris was a member of the Pennsylvania delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, in August 2008. As one of Pennsylvania’s 21 Democratic presidential electors, Harris voted for Barack Obama. Harris became a co-owner of the Pittsburgh Passion in January 2011.
Harris briefly worked for The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in 2011, but the relationship ended after Harris made comments in support of his Penn State coach at the time, Joe Paterno, during the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.
Franco Harris Cause of Death
Franco Harris sadly died on December 21, 2022, however, his cause of death was not known. We will surely update it in due course.
Franco Harris Age
At the time of his death, Franco Harris was 72 years old.
Franco Harris Family
Cad Harris, his father, served in World War II and was stationed in Italy. Gina Parenti Harris, his mother, was a native Italian who became a “war bride,” moving to the United States with her husband after the war ended.
Pete Harris, a collegiate All-American football player, died of a heart attack on August 15, 2006, at the age of 49.
Franco “Dok” Harris, Harris’ son, officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Pittsburgh on July 27, 2009. On November 3, that year, he finished second in the general election, receiving 25% of the vote.
Franco Harris Net Worth
Franco Harris had an estimated net worth of $3 million.
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
Categories: Biography
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
