Former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Chuck Noll is credited with assembling one of the greatest teams the NFL has ever seen. In doing so, Noll also changed the fates of an entire franchise and, in many ways, the city of Pittsburgh.
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Steelers legendary Head Coach Chuck Noll before a game.
When Noll arrived in Steel City from the Baltimore Colts, a reporter asked him how it felt to be in a "city of losers." Noll famously scoffed at that reporter, saying geography has nothing to do with winning and losing, and he set out to prove it was so.
He cleaned house and started acquiring players with the skills and hunger he knew the franchise needed to win. He drafted players like Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and Mel Blount. Then, in 1972, he drafted running back Franco Harris out of Penn State.
In the book Chuck Noll: His Life's Work, author Michael MacCambridge tells stories of Noll's time in Pittsburgh, including selecting Harris. Harris and Greene were vastly different people in many ways, but the one thing they had in common was that they weren't happy to be drafted by the Steelers, the worst team in the league at the time.
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Steelers' Franco Harris in the AFC Divisional win over the Oakland Raiders.
On his agent's advice, Harris didn't report for the spring rookie orientation as they worked out his deal. MacCambridge said that something clearly "isolated" about Harris was noticeable when he appeared. He described him as neither friendly nor unfriendly but as definitely somewhat aloof.
"That preseason, Chuck seemed nonplussed, reserving judgment even in the staff meetings. 'So [Franco] gets there late and he's behind, and I'm spending time with him and, boy, he doesn't look very good those first few weeks.' said the new running backs coach Dick Hoak. 'And we're all wondering, What the heck?'"
The offensive coaches, including Dick Hoak, who was the running backs coach, were concerned about what to make of Harris. They had all seen how well he performed at Penn State and prayed he would help the offense.
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Steelers legends Dick Hoak and Andy Russell stand on the field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Then, the preseason games began, and it started to click for Harris. The Steelers played the Atlanta Falcons, and it was like a light bulb went off for Noll. Bradshaw gave Harris the ball on an outside pitch, and he spied an opening. He thundered down the field 75 yards for a touchdown.
"The next week, Chuck sidled up to Hoak before a practice and counseled, 'Don't over coach him.' There was little danger of that. Harris was a man of singular self-possession anyway. He held the opinion, which he would share if prompted, that the skills of a running back were at some level uncoachable anyway. His own improvisational genius would be revealed throughout his first pro season."
Genuis indeed. Harris had an exceptional rookie season. He played in 14 games, starting 10, and rushed 188 times for 1,055 yards. He had 10 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. It was the year of the Immaculate Reception, and Harris was only a rookie, yet he had the foresight to snatch that ball. Harris was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts.
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Steelers' Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw, and Rocky Bleier in the 1970's.
Harris spent 12 years in black and gold, leaving an indelible mark on the city's heart and soul. He may not have wanted to be in the Steel City initially, but he became as much a part of Pittsburgh as a pierogi or the Three Rivers.
Steelers' Chuck Noll Made Joe Greene A Believer
In the same book, MacCormick describes how Greene saw Noll's vision come together before his very eyes. The Steelers didn't change one thing. They continued to use the same plays. What they changed was the personnel. They got lighter, faster, and better players, like Harris.
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Steelers' Cam Heyward carries a flag honoring Franco Harris before playing the Raiders.
Harris was able to sniff out open spaces like few others could. Once that season, they played the Kansas City Chiefs, and Hoak shared a remarkable story about Harris getting wide open. He said it appeared that no one blocked him; he just broke loose and ran about 80 yards to the end zone. The team began to unite, and players like Greene bought into Noll's philosophy. The first four Super Bowls were just on the horizon.
Do you remember when the Steelers drafted Harris? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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