Terry Bradshaw in 'state of shock' over Franco Harris' death

Paul Guggenheimer
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 11:24 a.m. | Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 11:24 a.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Gerry Mullins, left to right, get together after the team’s arrival at the Long Beach Airport, Jan. 14, 1980.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw (12) and running back Franco Harris (32) kid around in a relaxed mood during a photo session, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1979 in Miami.

Terry Bradshaw, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, says he too is a member of “Franco’s Italian Army” in Pittsburgh, Dec. 5, 1972. That’s the fan club of Steeler running sensation Franco Harris.

Fox commentator Terry Bradshaw is seen before the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. Bradshaw shared memories of Franco Harris with the Tribune-Review on Wednesday.

Terry Bradshaw said he was in a “state of shock” Wednesday morning after hearing that his former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate and partner on the Immaculate Reception, Franco Harris, had passed away.

“I’ve talked about it so much this morning, it’s kind of like therapy,” Bradshaw said in a phone interview with the Tribune-Review on Wednesday morning. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. How did this happen? How do you celebrate 50 years of the Immaculate Reception on Friday and (he) gets his number retired at halftime Saturday against the Raiders? Easily, outside of winning Super Bowls, professionally this is the highlight of his career. It would be mine.

“It’s just a shocking state of events.”

Bradshaw said his wife, Tammy, told him the news after receiving a text from Steelers Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount about 3 a.m.

“When I found out, I couldn’t say anything,” Bradshaw said. “When I sat down (later) and read Mel’s comments to me, I told Tammy, ‘Honey, we were just there two weeks ago. We were in L.A. We were filming (a feature) on the Immaculate Reception. We were cutting up, hooting and hollering, making fun of one another, reminiscing about plays. He gave me a jersey. I’m getting it framed.’ ”

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• Video: 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception

Bradshaw said other memories of Harris came flooding back to him Wednesday.

“Playing cards with him and how we played these stupid poker games. How he came in as a rookie and everybody loved him and he fit right in,” Bradshaw said. “How quick he was running with the football and he wasn’t really a fullback, he was a tailback.”

Bradshaw said Harris always had his back, recalling one play in particular from the 1979 Steelers’ 35-31 Super Bowl XIII victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

“I got sacked, and he was mad because he thought I got roughed. He was so mad. He got in the huddle, and he said, ‘Brad, give me the ball. I want the ball.’ He was so mad,” Bradshaw said. “And I said, ‘All right.’ And I gave it to him on tackle trap, and he went 22 yards for the touchdown. It wouldn’t have happened if he didn’t say, ‘Give me the ball.’ ”

Bradshaw said every time he was with Harris, he always asked him about his health.

“After I got cancer, he said, ‘Hey, Brad, you OK? If there’s anything we can do, let me know.’ And he said, ‘Are you eating a lot of blueberries?’ He told me years ago, ‘You got to eat blueberries, Brad, because they’re brain food. They’re good for you.’ He was always talking about health, and there he was selling donuts,” Bradshaw said with a laugh.

“That is my memory today. It’s the good stuff. It’s sad, but I have good stuff. I have nothing but good stuff about my man,” he said. “As a teammate, he was just the best.”