Fansided

10 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

Pittsburgh head coach Chuck Noll with wide receiver coach Lionel Taylor, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene and defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, during the closing seconds of the Steelers 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sylvia Allen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Pittsburgh head coach Chuck Noll with wide receiver coach Lionel Taylor, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene and defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, during the closing seconds of the Steelers 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sylvia Allen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Pittsburgh Steeler Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris on a run through in a 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Loiusiana. Harris was named the game’s MVP with a Super Bowl rushing record of 158-yards. (Photo by Sylvia Allen/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steeler Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris on a run through in a 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Loiusiana. Harris was named the game’s MVP with a Super Bowl rushing record of 158-yards. (Photo by Sylvia Allen/Getty Images) /

5. Franco Harris, RB

It almost seems somewhat magical. Penn State running back Franco Harris was the No. 13 overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chuck Noll’s club was coming off a 6-8 season and was making strides. But the addition of the former Nittany Lion gave the Black and Gold quite the weapon.

Harris would total 188 carries for 1,055 yards and 10 scores and earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He also caught 21 passes during the regular season. But it was his “Immaculate Reception” in the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoffs vs. the Oakland Raiders that gave the franchise its first-ever postseason win.

Harris would go onto a stellar career in the Steel City. Add in his 170 yards rushing in eight games with the Seattle Seahawks and the Pro Football Hall of Famer ranks 15th in NFL annals with 12,120 yards on the ground. And he’s one of only 24 players in league annals with 100 total touchdowns.

But the nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl champion always seemed to come up big in the playoffs. He ran for 158 yards and one score in earning Super Bowl IX Most Valuable Player honors. His 400 postseason carries remains a record and his 1,556 rushing yards in the playoffs is second all-time behind fellow Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith (1,586).

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