PITTSBURGH — The Steelers and Raiders now have played more than 30 times, and they'll meet up again countless more. But there only will be one Immaculate Reception, only one jersey retirement for Steelers legend Franco Harris, albeit amid the dismal backdrop of a frigid night three days after his death.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," team president Art Rooney II addressed the crowd to kick off a halftime ceremony. "The big man was supposed to be standing here right next to me."
Rooney then thanked Harris' wife, Dana, and son, Dok, for being there to help honor his memory. Nearly two dozen members of that 1972 team wore their jerseys and took the field at halftime for Rooney's speech and a video montage of Harris and the Immaculate Reception.
"It's been said life will bring you sorrow, but it's up to us to bring the joy. Franco brought us joy for 50 years," Rooney said. "In recognition of his many contributions, both on and off the field, it is my honor to declare No. 32 is officially retired."
He then presented the jersey to the Harris family as "Fran-co! Fran-co!" chants rang out around the stadium. The remembrance also was broadcast on NFL Network, although many Steelers fans watching from home were dismayed it was interrupted by a commercial break with about five minutes left before the second half began.
And in honor of the Immaculate Reception — and Harris — there also was an Immaculate Arrival. Every Steelers player walked into Acrisure Stadium wearing a No. 32 jersey with HARRIS on the back, as well as head coach Mike Tomlin. Longtime captain Cam Heyward, the team's longest-tenured player, was the last starter introduced pregame and ran out of the tunnel carrying a flag with 32 on it.
There was a moment of silence for Harris five minutes before kickoff, just ahead of the national anthem. Twirling a Terrible Towel after the coin toss was none other than Frenchy Fuqua, the famous first domino to fall on the Immaculate Reception, with Terry Bradshaw's pass intended for Fuqua being dislodged by Jack Tatum and falling to Harris.
Though the Steelers have many jersey numbers they don't issue out of respect to franchise greats, Harris joins an exclusive group among those who are officially retired. One is the No. 70 that was worn by Ernie Stautner, the other No. 75 of Joe Greene, who was in attendance Saturday night to see Harris join the club.
Not quite the coldest
Don't tell anyone you know who dared to endure a wind chill advisory and 15-mph gusts to watch this one in person, but at 8 degrees when the ball was kicked, there actually has been one colder game in Steelers history.
The coldest game on record, according to the team media guide, was a 17-10 loss on Dec. 10, 1977, at Cincinnati (2 degrees). History was made for this building, though.
The coldest home game in franchise history was a 28-10 win on Dec. 17, 1989, against the Patriots at Three Rivers Stadium (5 degrees). And the previous coldest at Acrisure Stadium was a tie between a 28-24 win on Dec. 31, 2017, against the Browns and that infamous 2005 AFC championship loss to the Patriots (11 degrees).
Just for fun, in case you need to thaw out, the warmest game in franchise history was 94 degrees. The Steelers beat the Bills in early January in Buffalo — wait, no, they actually lost a 31-14 blowout on the road against the Phoenix Cardinals on Oct. 9, 1988.
Quick hits
Kenny Pickett's streak of 145 passes without an interception, dating to the late-October loss to the Eagles, ended in the third quarter when he was picked off by linebacker Denzel Perryman. ... Arthur Maulet's interception on the next play was his first in 32 games with the Steelers and first since he picked off Derek Carr on Dec. 6, 2020, with the Jets. ... There were zero penalties called in the first half, the first flag finally coming on the second snap of the third quarter with offensive pass interference called against Pat Freiermuth. (The Raiders weren't penalized until a false start at the 5:46 mark of the third quarter.) ... Paid attendance was announced at 64,761, lowest of this regular season.
