Franco Harris Kids: Meet Franco “Dok” Harris – Franco Harris was an American professional football player who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL).

He played a key role in one of the most famous plays in professional football history, which Pittsburgh sportscaster Myron Cope called “The Immaculate Reception.”

After playing college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, he was selected 13th overall by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He spent his first 12 years in the NFL with the Steelers before joining the Seahawks for his 13th and final season.

Harris attended Penn State University after graduating from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey in 1968.

While playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Harris primarily served as a blocker for All-American running back Lydell Mitchell. He amassed 2,002 rushing yards with 24 touchdowns and averaged over 5 yards per carry, while catching 28 passes for 352 yards and another touchdown. In 1970, he led the team in points.

Harris was named the league’s Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News and United Press International during his first season with the Steelers (1972). He gained 1,055 yards on 188 carries this season, an average of 5.6 yards per carry. He also had 10 touchdown passes and four touchdown receptions.

His fans, including “Brigadier General” Frank Sinatra, called themselves “Franco’s Italian Army” and wore military helmets bearing his number.

Harris was selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls (1972-1980) and was named All-Pro in 1977. In eight seasons, Harris rushed for more than 1,000 yards, breaking Jim Brown’s record.

After the 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979 seasons, the running back tandem of Harris and Rocky Bleier, combined with a strong defense, won four Super Bowls.

On January 12, 1975, he was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IX after rushing for 158 yards and scoring a touchdown on 34 carries in a 16–6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Successful Penn State teammates Harris and Lydell Mitchell were co-owners of Super Bakery, a company founded in 1990 to produce nutritional foods for school children. In 2006, the company was renamed RSuper Foods.

RSuper Foods produces the Super Donut, which is served to public school students in the eastern United States.

Harris and Mitchell also worked together in 1996 to save the Parks Sausage Company in Baltimore, the first African-American company in the United States to go public.

Harris was a member of the Pennsylvania delegation to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, in August 2008. As one of Pennsylvania’s 21 Democratic presidential electors, Harris voted for Barack Obama. Harris became co-owner of Pittsburgh Passion in January 2011.

Harris briefly worked for The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in 2011, but the relationship ended after Harris made comments supportive of his Penn State coach, Joe Paterno, during the Penn State child abuse scandal.

Who is Franco Harris’ son?

Franco Harris has a son named Franco “Dok” Harris.

Franco Harris Kids: Meet Franco “Dok” Harris

Franco “Dok” Harris officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Pittsburgh on July 27, 2009. On November 3 of the same year, he came second in the legislative elections, with 25% of the vote.