How the Immaculate Reception created a lasting friendship
On Dec. 23 each year, former Raiders star linebacker Phil Villapiano would get a call from an old friend, Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris.
Harris always reminded Villapiano of the most famous play in NFL history, the “Immaculate Reception,” and how they were connected by it forever.
Villapiano won’t get a call this year from his friend, who died in Pittsburgh at age 72, but the famous play lives on in the minds of NFL fans.
In a 1972 AFC divisional playoff game, the Steelers trailed the Raiders, 7-6, with 22 seconds left. On 4th-and-10, Terry Bradshaw launched a desperation pass to Frenchy Fuqua.
The moment the ball arrived, Raiders safety Jack Tatum crushed Fuqua, propelling the ball back to Harris, who scooped it up and raced down the sideline for a walk-off touchdown.
