Fifty years after the “Immaculate Reception” and just hours before his death, Franco Harris said it “blows my mind” how he pulled off arguably the most memorable play in NFL history.
In a live interview Tuesday on “Mad Dog Unleashed” on SiriusXM radio, Harris recalled December 23, 1972, when he caught a deflected pass just before it hit the ground and ran for a playoff game-winning touchdown to lead his Pittsburgh Steelers over the Oakland Raiders.
Harris said his assignment was to block but he wound up going out for a pass when the fourth-down play broke down with 22 seconds left in the game.
“You know what, when I watch the film I can’t remember anything of the play past just leaving the backfield,” Harris told host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo. “But when I see the film, and I see it in real time, it just blows my mind how quick that is … And I have no idea how I reacted so quickly, and got it and kept in stride. And even looked up a little bit to try and get the lay of the land … I’m saying, ‘How did all that happen in just those few seconds?’ It didn’t make any sense. Like, I just don’t understand it.”
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers' Franco Harris (32) eludes a tackle by Oakland Raiders' Jimmy Warren as he runs 42-yards for a touchdown after catching a deflected pass during an AFC Divisional NFL football playoff game in Pittsburgh on Dec. 23, 1972. Harris died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 21, 2022, at age 72, just two days before the 50th anniversary of The Immaculate Reception. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck, File) Harry Cabluck/APHarris died just days before the 50th anniversary of the catch, and the Steelers had planned to retire his No. 32 jersey during halftime of their game against the Raiders on Saturday.
The NFL Network in 2019 named the Immaculate Reception the top play in the 100 years of the league.
The play was not without controversy: There were no convincing replays to determine who deflected the ball when two opposing players collided and whether the ball actually hit the ground when Harris caught it.
In the interview, Russo said some believe that the nose of the football hit the turf, “But you’re saying that’s not the case, correct?”
“I have no idea, I have no idea,” Harris said. “I remember nothing. That’s what baffles me…”
Russo noted Harris was “a long way away from where the ball ricocheted.” If another Steeler had touched the ball, Harris’ catch would not have been legal.
“I have no recollection of seeing the ball at all,” Harris said. “I have no visual of the ball. I have no recollection. But look at … how fast it came back.”
Harry Cabluck/AP‘You don’t practice stuff like this’
Looking at the film, Harris says, “I’m thinking that it could only have been” Raiders defender Jack Tatum “that the ball bounced off of” before Harris made the shoestring catch. Tatum had collided with Steelers fullback Frenchy Fuqua.
In explaining how he made the play, Harris noted that he “always had great reflexes but you don’t practice stuff like this. … So it kind of blows my mind.”
The Steelers won the game 13-7 for the team’s first-ever playoff victory but lost their next game. Still, the team went on to dominate the 1970s, winning four Super Bowls.
Russo, the host, opened the interview by asking, “How are you today, OK pal?” It was likely the last interview Harris did before his death was announced on Wednesday. His cause of death was not provided.
“Doing great. Fantastic,” Harris said, though he was coughing here and there. “And, like as you said, 50 years ago, and, and it still feels brand new.”
Harris then went on to talk about the game-winning drive, how it started off poorly and left the Steelers in a desperate spot.
“So, things didn’t go too well on those first three plays, as you know. And then it gets down to fourth down. A long way to go. 22 seconds.
And I go into the huddle and I tell myself, ‘Franco, this will probably be the last play of the season. It was a good season. Just play it till the end.’
And (the coach) called that 66 halfback option.”
Harris’ assignment was to stay in and block.
He recalled that “there wasn’t much … adrenaline” in the huddle.
We were winning the whole game and right at the end (the Raiders) scored. It seemed more of a letdown than anything.”
Harris joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1984. Barry Sweet/APRusso noted that Harris “did block well” on the play and noticed that quarterback Terry Bradshaw was scrambling under pressure from the defense.
“My thought was to release to be an outlet pass,” Harris said. “And Bradshaw, being as, you know, big and as strong as he is, you know, guys trying to bring him down, he’s able to fight them off and get the ball into the air.”
Harris said when the ball was in the air, “I tell myself, right, I tell myself ‘Go to the ball, go to the ball.’”
Harris said that was his instinct because that was what he was taught as a running back in college, under Joe Paterno at Penn State University.
“That’s what Joe preached to us all four years at Penn State. You know, always go to the ball … And so I start taking some steps to the ball and I remember nothing after that… which blows my mind, that I have no visual, no recollection of anything until I am stiff arming (Raiders defender) Jimmy Warren, going into the end zone.”
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Mary Mara, an actress known for roles on "ER" and "Ray Donovan," died in late June, her manager, Craig Dorfman, said in a statement to CNN. She was 61. A preliminary investigation suggested that she drowned while swimming, police said. Matthew Simmons/WireImage/Getty Images 
Former San Francisco 49ers halfback Hugh McElhenny died at the age of 93, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on June 23. Clarence Hamm/AP 
Tony Siragusa, a key part of the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl-winning team in 2001, died unexpectedly on June 22, according to a statement from the team. He was 55. Jeff Zelevansky/AP 
Former NBA player Caleb Swanigan died at the age of 25 on June 20, his college basketball team Purdue announced. The Allen County coroner's office confirmed to CNN that he had died of natural causes. Swanigan made 75 appearances and four starts during his three seasons in the NBA. Craig Mitchelldyer/USA Today Sports/Reuters 
Former political analyst Mark Shields, who was best known for his work on CNN's "Capital Gang" and "PBS NewsHour," died June 18 at the age of 85. Valerie Plesch/The New York Times/Redux 
Jim Seals, one half of 1970s soft-rock duo Seals and Crofts, died at the age of 80, his family announced on June 7. Seals is seen here at right with musical partner Darrell "Dash" Crofts. They were known for hits such as "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl" and "Get Closer." Michael Putland/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 
Alec John Such, a founding member and original bass player of the band Bon Jovi, died at the age of 70, according to a tweet from the group on June 5. Ian Dickson/Redferns/Getty Images 
Former NFL running back Marion Barber III, who spent most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, died at the age of 38, the team said on June 1. No cause of death was provided. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images 
Jeff Gladney, a cornerback for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, died in a car crash on May 30, according to the team's official website. He was 25. Gladney signed with the Cardinals this year after playing his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings. Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images 
Musician Ronnie Hawkins died on May 29, according to a post on The Band's verified Facebook page. He was 87. Boris Spremo/Toronto Star/Getty Images 
Ray Liotta, the actor known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and the Martin Scorsese mob classic "Goodfellas," died at the age of 67, it was reported on May 26. Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock 
Andy Fletcher, a keyboardist and founding member of Depeche Mode, died on May 26, the band announced on their official social media channels. He was 60 years old. Andre Havergo/Geisler-Fotopress/picture-alliance/dpa/AP 
Marnie Schulenburg, a soap opera actress who documented her journey from becoming a new mother to a cancer patient, died on May 17 after battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, according to her representative. Schulenburg was 37. Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images 
John Aylward, a veteran film and television actor for more than three decades, died on May 16, according to his longtime agent and friend, Mitchell K. Stubbs. Aylward, a Seattle native, was best known for playing the stern but fair Dr. Donald Anspaugh on NBC's "ER" and Barry Goodwin on "The West Wing." He was 75. Mitch Haddad/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images 
Atlanta-based rapper Lil Keed died May 13, according to a tweet from his record label, Young Stoner Life. He was 24. Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images 
Bob Lanier, a Hall of Fame basketball player who was an eight-time NBA All-Star, died May 10, the NBA said. He was 73. Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images 
Fred Ward, a veteran character actor in film and television, died on May 8, according to his publicist. Ward was known for his work in "The Right Stuff," "Short Cuts" and numerous other films. He was 79. Moviestore/Shutterstock 
Kelly Meafua, a Samoan rugby star who played for the French rugby club US Montauban, died May 7, after falling from a bridge in France. He was 32. Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport/Getty Images 
Country singer Mickey Gilley, best known as the pioneer of the "urban cowboy" style, died May 7, his publicist Zach Farnum said. He was 86. Gilley had 17 No. 1 country records, starting with "Room Full of Roses" in 1974. Everett/Shutterstock 
Mike Hagerty, a character actor known for his roles in shows like "Friends" and films like "Overboard," died at the age of 67, according to his family on May 5. Through the years, Hagerty amassed a long list of TV guest roles, primarily in comedies, but also in dramas such as "ER" and "Deadwood." HBO/Everett Collection 
Country music legend Naomi Judd — one half of the duo The Judds — died at the age of 76, her daughter Ashley announced on April 30. Naomi and her daughter Wynonna began singing together as a professional act in the early 1980s, eventually producing a string of major hits, including "Mama He's Crazy" and "Love Can Build a Bridge." Josh Anderson/AP 
Andrew Woolfolk, a longtime member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire whose sweet signature instrument made songs like "September" impossible not to dance to, died on April 25, group member Philip Bailey announced. Woolfolk was 71. Solomon NJie/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 
Johnnie Jones Sr., a decorated World War II veteran and pioneering civil rights lawyer, died at the age of 102, according to the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs on April 25. Gerald Herbert/AP 
Former US Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the longest-serving Republican senator in US history, died April 23 at the age of 88. Hatch served in the chamber for 42 years, from 1977 to 2019. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 
Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur died at age 70, the Montreal Canadiens announced on April 22. Lafleur, nicknamed "The Flower," was a five-time Stanley Cup champion with the Canadiens. He scored 560 goals and had 793 assists during his NHL career. Focus On Sport/Getty Images 
Robert Morse, a Broadway star best known to TV viewers as "Mad Men" boss Bertram Cooper, died April 20 at the age of 90. Appearing on Broadway since the mid-1950s, Morse originated the role of the enterprising J. Pierrepont Finch in 1961's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," winning a Tony Award for his performance. Jaimie Trueblood/AMC 
Adelia "Dede" Robertson, wife of televangelist Pat Robertson and founding board member of the Christian Broadcasting Network, died April 19 at the age of 94. Ron Edmonds/AP 
DJ Kay Slay, an influential member of the New York hip-hop scene whose raucous mixtapes became legendary, died from Covid-19 complications, his family confirmed in a statement on April 18. He was 55. Kay Slay, whose real name was Keith Grayson, had been a star since the early 1990s, when mixtapes he produced featured up-and-comers and superstar rappers like Jay-Z and, later, Eminem. Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images 
Arthur Rupe, a record producer and 2011 inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, died on April 15, according to a statement from the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation. He was 104. Rupe is credited with launching the career of Little Richard and helped make R&B a mainstream genre of music, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 
Liz Sheridan, a veteran stage and screen actress who played Jerry Seinfeld's mother, Helen, on "Seinfeld," died on April 15, her manager and friend Amanda Hendon confirmed to CNN. She was 93. Castle Rock Entertainment/Everett Collection 
Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy died at the age of 65, the New York Islanders announced on April 15. Bossy, a four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Islanders, is the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 573 goals. Focus On Sport/Getty Images 
Former Colombia soccer captain Freddy Rincón died on April 14 after being involved in a car crash in Cali, Colombia, the hospital treating him said in a statement. Rincón, 55, played in three World Cups and scored 17 goals in 84 games for Colombia. Imago/Zuma 
Star bodybuilder Cedric McMillan, seen here being interviewed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, died at the age of 44, his sponsor confirmed on April 12. McMillan won multiple titles during his career, including the 2017 Arnold Classic. No further details were released about his death. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images 
Shirley Spork, a trailblazing figure for women's golf who was one of the founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, died at the age of 94, the organization said on April 12. Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters 
Gilbert Gottfried, a comedian and actor with a distinctly memorable voice, died after a long illness, his family announced on April 12. He was 67. Dan Steinberg/AP 
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins was struck and killed by a dump truck on April 9 while trying to cross a highway on foot in South Florida, police said. Haskins, 24, had played for Ohio State and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Jason Pohuski/CSM/Shutterstock 
Bobby Rydell, a teen idol from the '60s known for songs like "Wild One" and his role as Hugo Peabody in the 1963 film "Bye Bye Birdie," died on April 5, according to a statement released by his representatives. He was 79. Michael Levin/Corbis/Getty Images 
Estelle Harris, the actress known for playing George Costanza's mother on "Seinfeld," died on April 2, her agent told CNN. She was 93. Kyle Boorman/Artisan Entertainment/Everett Collection 
Tom Parker, a member of the British boy band The Wanted, died at the age of 33, his wife and bandmates shared on March 30. In October 2020, Parker announced that he'd been diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain tumor. Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images 
Paul Herman, an actor known for his roles in "The Sopranos," "Goodfellas" and "The Irishman," died March 29 at the age of 76. Charley Gallay/Vanity Fair/Getty Images 
Taylor Hawkins, the golden-locked musician who for more than two decades was the drummer for Foo Fighters, died at the age of 50, the band said on March 25. The cause of death was not disclosed. Amy Harris/Invision/AP 
Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as US secretary of state, died of cancer at age 84, her family announced in a statement on March 23. Albright was a central figure in President Bill Clinton's administration and helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War. Wally McNamee/Corbis Historical/Getty Images 
Longtime NFL reporter John Clayton, who was known as "The Professor" because of his encyclopedic knowledge of the game, died March 18, according to ESPN, where he was an analyst, and Seattle Sports, where he hosted a radio show. Clayton was 67. James D. Smith/AP 
US Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican and the longest-serving member of the current Congress, died March 18, according to a statement from his office. He was 88. Ash Adams/The New York Times/Redux 
Former pro wrestler Scott Hall, a WWE Hall of Famer who reached stardom as "Razor Ramon" during the heyday of his career in the 1990s, died at the age of 63, the WWE said on March 14. George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images 
Stephen Wilhite, the developer who created GIFs in the late '80s and transformed the way we communicate on the internet, died on March 14. His wife, Kathaleen, told CNN that he died from complications of Covid-19. He was 74. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards 
William Hurt, the Oscar-winning star of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Big Chill" and "Broadcast News," died on March 13, his son Will told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 71. Hurt played a variety of roles in classic 1980s films, including "Body Heat" and "Children of a Lesser God." Rich Fury/Invision/AP 
Singer Traci Braxton, who also starred on the reality series "Braxton Family Values," died of esophageal cancer on March 12. She was 50. Paul Archuleta/Getty Images 
Emilio Delgado, who played the Fix-It Shop owner Luis on "Sesame Street," died on March 10, according to his manager. He had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in 2020, according to a report from TMZ, citing his wife. Delgado was 81. PBS/Everett Collection 
Australian cricketer Shane Warne, widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, died March 4 at the age of 52, his management company confirmed to CNN. Warne was one of cricket's most lethal bowlers, with 708 Test wickets to his name. That's the most ever for an Australian and the second-most of all time. Robert Prezioso/Getty Images 
Elsa Klensch, who was among the first to bring fashion to TV screens with CNN's "Style with Elsa Klensch" in the 1980s, died on March 4. She was 92. For two decades, Klensch gave CNN viewers a front-row seat to runways all over the world, including New York, London, Milan and Paris. Andrew Eccles/Turner 
Actor Johnny Brown, who played building superintendent Nathan Bookman on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times," died on March 2, according to his daughter, Sharon Brown. He was 84. Mike Fanous/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images 
Sally Kellerman, the prolific Oscar-nominated actress who played Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan in the 1970 film "M*A*S*H," died on February 24, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which cited her son. She was 84. AF archive/Alamy Stock Photo/ 
Mark Lanegan, a leader within Seattle's grunge music scene and frontman of the influential group Screaming Trees, died February 22 at the age of 57, his family and friends confirmed on his verified Twitter account. Though he often downplayed his contributions to indie rock, the gravelly voiced Lanegan helped usher in a new era for the genre that saw many of his collaborators soar to international fame. Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images 
Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur best known for founding media platform SBTV, died February 20 at the age of 31. His mother confirmed that her son died from a "sudden illness." Edwards got into the music scene at the age of 15 and was a pioneering figure in British rap and grime music. Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty Images 
Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Taylor died at the age of 80, the Washington Commanders announced on February 19. Taylor retired in 1977 as the NFL's all-time leading receiver. His record of 649 receptions for 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns would stand until 1984. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images 
Indian singer and composer Bappi Lahiri, who lent his talent to Indian cinema for nearly 50 years, died February 15 at the age of 69, according to a statement from his doctor. Lahiri, who was fondly referred to as "India's Disco King," was known for his love of 1970s-inspired dance beats. His signature hits, including the 1982 smash "Disco Dancer" from the Bollywood movie of the same name, helped to infuse Indian cinema with a lively, more contemporary sound. Pramod Thakur/Hindustan Times/Getty Images 
Ivan Reitman, a storied producer and director behind some of Hollywood's biggest comedies, died on February 13, according to the CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. He was 75. Reitman created some of the most enduring comedic films of the '80s and '90s, including 1984's "Ghostbusters," which he produced and directed. Marka/Alamy 
Former Major League Baseball player Jeremy Giambi died at the age of 47, a few of his former teams announced on February 9. The cause of death was not released. John Cordes/AP 
Singer Lata Mangeshkar, the "nightingale of India" who gave her voice to Indian movies for more than 70 years, died on February 6, according to her doctor. She was 92. Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images 
Bill Fitch, a Hall of Fame basketball coach who won the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics in 1981, died February 2 at the age of 89. Focus on Sport/Getty Images 
Italian cinema star Monica Vitti died February 2 at the age of 90, according to Italian politician and family friend Walter Veltroni. Vitti was well-known for her work with some of Italy and Europe's most influential filmmakers throughout the 1960s and 1970s. 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock 
Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died on January 30, said her family and the New York Police Department, which is investigating her death. She was 30. Kryst was an attorney who sought to help reform America's justice system, and she was a fashion blogger and entertainment news correspondent. She was crowned Miss USA in 2019. Andy Kropa/Invision/AP 
Actor Howard Hesseman, best known as the hard-rocking disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died on January 29, according to his manager, Robbie Kass. Hesseman died from complications related to colon surgery, Kass told CNN. He was 81. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images 
Legendary Mexican-Argentinian singer Diego Verdaguer died at the age of 70, his family announced in a statement on January 28. Verdaguer first achieved international success in 1975, when his song "Volveré" ("I'll Be Back") became a hit in Mexico and went on to sell more than 5 million copies. Joselin Mota/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 
Actor Vachik Mangassarian, a character actor who appeared on "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "The Mentalist," died of Covid-19 complications, his manager told CNN on January 27. He was 78. Matt Carr/Getty Images 
Brig. Gen. Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, died on January 23, according to a family spokesman. He was 102. McGee successfully completed 409 air combat missions across three wars — World War II, Korea, and Vietnam — and he received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Staff Sgt. James Richardson/US Army 
French fashion designer Thierry Mugler, whose flamboyant creations transformed haute couture, died January 23 at the age of 73, according to a message posted to his official Instagram account. Richard Bord/WireImage/Getty Images 
Clark Gillies, a Hall of Fame hockey player and four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders, died on January 21, according to the National Hockey League. He was 67. Denis Brodeur/NHLI/Getty Images 
Louie Anderson, an Emmy Award-winning actor who also spent part of his career as a stand-up comic and game-show host, died January 21 from complications related to cancer, his publicist Glenn Schwartz confirmed to CNN. Anderson was 68. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images 
Meat Loaf, the larger-than-life singer whose 1977 record "Bat Out of Hell" is one of the best-selling albums of all time, died January 20 at the age of 74, according to a statement from his family on his verified Facebook page. In pictures: Rock 'n' roll legend Meat Loaf Torsten Sukrow/picture-alliance/dpa/AP 
André Leon Talley, the former longtime creative director for Vogue and a fashion icon in his own right, died January 18 at the age of 73, according to a statement on his official Instagram account. Talley was a pioneer in the fashion industry, a Black man in an often insular world dominated by White men and women. Pixelformula/Sipa/Shutterstock 
French actor Gaspard Ulliel, best known for playing Hannibal Lecter in "Hannibal Rising," died after a skiing accident on January 18. He was 37. Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images 
Lusia "Lucy" Harris, a college basketball star during the 1970s and the first and only woman ever to be officially drafted by an NBA team, died on January 18, according to a statement from her family and Delta State University. She was 66. Harris led Delta State to three national championships from 1975-1977. John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images 
Steve Schapiro, an acclaimed photojournalist perhaps best known for his work documenting the civil rights movement, died January 15 at the age of 87. Schapiro was also known for his portraits of some of the world's biggest celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, David Bowie and Barbra Streisand. Bernd Wuestneck/DPA/AFP/Getty Images 
Ralph Emery, a legendary radio and television personality in the world of country music, died January 15 at the age of 88, according to the Country Music Association. AFF-USA/Shutterstock 
Ronnie Spector, the leader of pop group The Ronettes and the powerful central voice of hits like "Be My Baby" and "Baby I love You," died on January 12, her family announced in a statement on her website. She was 78. Tom Sheehan/Sony Music Archive/Getty Images 
Clyde Bellecourt, a leader in the Native American struggle for civil rights and a founder of the American Indian Movement, died on January 11, his wife Peggy Bellecourt told the Star Tribune. He was 85. Jim Wells/AP 
Deon Lendore, an Olympic and world championship medalist from Trinidad and Tobago, died in a car accident in Texas on January 10. He was 29. Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images 
Don Maynard, a Hall of Fame football player known for helping the New York Jets win Super Bowl III, died January 10 at the age of 86. At the time of his retirement in 1973, Maynard's career receptions (633) and yards receiving (11,834) were league records. He also amassed 10,000 yards receiving before any other pro player. Focus on Sport/Getty Images 
Bob Saget, the comedian and actor who played wholesome patriarch Danny Tanner on the sitcom "Full House," was found dead in an Orlando hotel room on January 9, his family confirmed in a statement to CNN. He was 65. Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images 
Michael Lang, co-creator of the Woodstock music festival, died January 8 at the age of 77. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images 
Award-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman died January 8 at the age of 93. Along with Alan Bergman, her husband and longtime collaborator, Bergman was nominated for 16 Academy Awards over the course of her career and won three. One was for the song "The Way We Were," from the 1973 film that starred Barbra Streisand. Brian To/FilmMagic/Getty Images 
Sidney Poitier, whose elegant bearing and principled onscreen characters made him Hollywood's first Black movie star, died at the age of 94, it was reported on January 7. In pictures: Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier AP 
Lani Guinier, a legal scholar and champion for voting rights who was once nominated to be assistant attorney general by then-President Bill Clinton, died on January 7, her cousin, Sherrie Russell-Brown, confirmed to CNN. She was 71. Lindsay Brice/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 
Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated director of movies such as "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon," died on January 6. He was 82. Damian Dovarganes/AP 
College Football Hall of Famer Ross Browner, a two-time All-American at Notre Dame and a 10-year NFL veteran, died January 6 at the age of 67. Browner, a defensive lineman, started all four seasons at Notre Dame, winning national championships in 1973 and 1977 and setting several school records. Bettmann/Getty Images 
South Korean actress Kim Mi-soo died at the age of 29, her agency, Landscape Entertainment, announced on January 5. The budding TV star and model appeared in the Disney+ series "Snowdrop" and Netflix's "Hellbound." Seokyong Lee/Penta Press/Shutterstock People we've lost in 2022
Prev NextSome old-time Raiders still salty
Harris noted how important it was that he didn’t dive for the ball. In those days when a player hits the ground while possessing the ball, he was officially down and could not advance it.
“How lucky am I that I was conscious that, you know, catch it that low without diving for it,” Harris said.
Harris said that after the players collided and the ball deflected into the air, some of the Raiders started to clap and celebrate.
“And the Raiders stop, just for a few seconds, and that few seconds that they stopped gave me the head start to get into the end zone.”
All these years later, when some old-time Raiders still assert that the catch wasn’t a legal catch, Harris says he pays it no mind.
“As a matter of fact,” Harris said, “I feel good that they’re still sulking about that.”
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