Ranking the top 25 NFL running backs of all time…
14. Franco Harris
Drafted in the first round (13th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972 out of Penn State University, Harris emerged as a cornerstone of the team’s 1970s dynasty, blending power and durability.
Over 12 seasons with the Steelers, he anchored their ground attack, helping secure four Super Bowl titles (IX, X, XIII, XIV). Harris set franchise records with 11,950 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns, earning nine Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection.
He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1972 after rushing for 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns, and famously caught the “Immaculate Reception” in the playoffs that year, a deflected pass that propelled Pittsburgh to victory.
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His standout performance came in Super Bowl IX, where he rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown, earning MVP honors. In postseason play, Harris amassed 1,556 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns across 19 games.
Finishing his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 1984, Harris retired after one season there.
Harris’s career totals stand at 12,120 rushing yards on 2,949 carries (4.1 yards per carry), 91 rushing touchdowns, 307 receptions for 2,287 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, totaling 14,407 all-purpose yards and 100 scores.
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Harris’s standout attributes were his remarkable durability and his powerful lower body, which allowed him to break tackles and gain yards after contact. He was a classic workhorse back: punishing between the tackles, patient behind blockers and effective in short-yardage situations with a low pad level and strong leg drive.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, Harris’s legacy as a Steelers icon is immeasurable, as he embodied the blue-collar grit of their Steel Curtain era.