Joe Greene: Death of Steelers teammate Franco Harris is like 'having a nightmare'

Joe Greene dreamed of welcoming his good friend Saturday into the small fraternity of Pittsburgh Steelers players who have had their numbers retired by the franchise.

Then, Greene was awakened Wednesday morning to the news that Pro Football Hall of Fame contemporary Franco Harris had died in his sleep. Harris, 72, passed away two days before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception and three days before his number will be retired at halftime of the Steelers’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I’m thinking that I’m having a nightmare, and I want someone to wake me up so I can get over this terrible feeling,” Greene said in an interview with the Tribune-Review.

Greene still plans to fly to Pittsburgh on Thursday to attend the ceremonies surrounding the franchise’s commemoration of the Immaculate Reception anniversary and the jersey retirement ceremony.

He just can’t believe Harris won’t be there to take part in it.

“They don’t get any better than Franco,” Greene said.

In 2014, Greene became the second Steelers player — and first from the 1970s group that produced four Super Bowl championships in six seasons — to have his number retired. Ernie Stautner, a fellow defensive lineman, was the first. His No. 70 was retired in 1964.

The Steelers announced in September plans to make Harris the first offensive player to have his number retired, an idea endorsed by Greene.

“Before Franco, we hadn’t done very much,” Greene said in October during the Steelers’ alumni weekend. “After Franco, we didn’t do much, either. But during Franco, we did a lot.”

Greene, a defensive tackle from North Texas, joined the Steelers in 1969 and formed the nucleus of what became known as the Steel Curtain. Harris, a running back from Penn State, joined the Steelers three years later and, as a rookie, was on the receiving end of the Immaculate Reception, which has been voted the greatest play in NFL history.

Greene said Wednesday that Harris was a man of such integrity that had he not caught the ball legally, he wouldn’t have run the final 45 yards to complete the 60-yard touchdown after the deflected pass. Harris caught the ball at his shoe tops, although some Raiders players have argued that the ball was scooped off the turf.

“When they talk about the Immaculate Reception and the controversy of whether the ball hit the ground, if that ball had hit the ground, Franco would never have run toward the goal line,” Greene said. “He never would have done it. He would have stopped right there and dropped the ball. Anyone who knows Franco knows that’s what he would have done.”

As decorated as Harris was as a player — he had eight 1,000-yard seasons and continues to hold the all-time Super Bowl rushing record four decades later — Greene said he was a better person away from the field.

After retiring in 1984, Harris became a successful businessman who was involved in several charities throughout Pittsburgh.

“Solid, solid, solid person,” Greene said. “Anytime anyone wanted something from Franco, if it was a speaking engagement, an appointment, Franco would be there. He would be our guy.”

Franco’s Italian Army became a cult fan club in Harris’ playing days, and Greene recalled how children would flock to Harris after games.

“In his second year, they bought him a home on the North Side about two or three blocks from the stadium,” Greene said. “After the home games, Franco would walk to his house. The kids in the neighborhood would walk behind him after every game. He’d be talking to them. It would look like the Pied Piper. It was so special.

“Every occasion you’d see Franco, you’d see him smiling. He would be so gentle with the kids. He would sign autographs and do all of that. He never had a problem with anyone.”