Super Bowl XIII pitted the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had won Super Bowl IX and X, against the Dallas Cowboys, who had won Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XI. It was the game of the century and a showdown to see who would be the team of the decade in the 1970’s. It drew a 47.1 Nielsen rating and was the most watched Super Bowl in history at the time of the game.
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 21: Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during Super Bowl XIII on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Steelers won the Super Bowl 35-31. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
The game was billed as the glitzy, glamourous Cowboys vs the gritty, working-class Steelers. It was fitting that the Cowboys defense featured the notorious Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, who was not shy about sharing his feelings about the Steelers heading into the big game. Henderson was especially noted for picking on Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, heading into the game:
“Bradshaw couldn’t spell ‘cat’ if you spotted him the ‘c’ and the ‘t,’” Henderson spouted during media day before Super Bowl XIII.
The brilliant Football Life documentary that premiered on Friday evening on the actual 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception about Franco Harris revealed that Bradshaw took the comment in stride and like most quarterbacks, laughed it off and downplayed it, even though he was privately hurt by them. Harris was incensed about the behavior and headed into the game with vengeance in his heart.
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 21: Football: Super Bowl XIII, Pittsburgh Steelers Franco Harris (32) in action, rushing vs Dallas Cowboys Randy White (54), Miami, FL 1/21/1979 (Photo by Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X23080 TK1 R4 F4)
Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers were driving and attempting to take a two-score lead on the Cowboys. With just under nine minutes to go in the game, Henderson grabbed Bradshaw and slammed him to the ground. The Super Bowl XIII MVP recalls how upset Harris was after the play:
“Franco felt like Hollywood Henderson had roughed me up on a sack and he went nuts, he went nuts,”Bradshaw said. “He’s never said this, he said, ‘Brad, give me the ball, give me the ball.’”
Harris and Henderson jawed at each other for a long time after the play. In a different era, it was still a noticeable squabble that ultimately resulted in a delay of game penalty against the Steelers. On third and nine, Harris demanded the ball in a situation that called for a pass, but Bradshaw didn’t hesitate to call the career rushing leader in Super Bowl history's number:
“It really did piss me off when he was mocking Terry,” Harris said about the incident during the documentary. “We’re the Pittsburgh Steelers, baby. I was ready and Bradshaw called my play.”
Harris took the ball and angrily stormed up the middle, looking for Henderson, but he was nowhere to be found and 22 yards later, Harris had put the Steelers up 28-17 with under nine minutes to play:
“No one could’ve got Franco that time, you know why he was pissed,” Receiver Coach Tom Moore told Joe Greene. “He was pissed because they threw Bradshaw down.”
A Football Life: Franco Harris / NFL Network
The Steelers would go ahead 35-17 less than a minute later after Randy White fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Bradshaw immediately stuck a dagger in the Cowboys by finding Lynn Swann for an 18-yard touchdown and an insurmountable 18-point lead with under seven minutes to play. Despite his anger at Henderson when the final gun sounded to end the game, Harris sought out his foe. Harris was the first person to embrace Henderson and console him about the loss:
“That’s a great example of Franco Harris,” Jack Ham said. “He just cares about people, no one else does that. That’s unique for Franco Harris."
Harris was the NFL Man of The Year in 1976 and he was the ambassador for the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. He was the same person in and out of the spotlight and after countless tributes and stories, no teammate or fan has uttered a bad word about the Hall of Famer. When he was inducted into Canton after his playing career was over, he summed up his football life in a rousing speech.
“I’m going to savor this for a minute,” Harris stated. “Is the [Italian] Army here? My teammates were men of character, with a lot of heart and soul. This was the team that I belonged to, a team that will live forever.We tried to give you the best we had, so I want you to remember Rocky Bleier, Joe Greene a great leader. Jack Ham, the perfect linebacker. Mel Blount, the cornerstone of our defensive backfield. Terry Bradshaw, who had a will that was second to none.
It was great, it is truly immeasurable and certainly unforgettable, don’t forget us.”
Franco Harris’ number 32 will be hoisted for as long as the Pittsburgh Steelers play football into the rafters on Christmas Eve, and he will be sorely missed. In many ways, he was the Pittsburgh Steelers and countless players have come forward with how Harris would welcome them and seek them out when they joined the black and gold. Harris was available, but never intruded and avoided the locker room, so players wouldn't feel obligated to talk to him. During his Hall of Fame speech, he gave credit to everyone but himself. Franco Harris was the Steeler way.
Franco is going to get his wish, he will never be forgotten.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? What is your favorite memory of Franco Harris? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
