Beyond the "controversy" over this play, there's a good lesson here for young players. Of course, there was an extraordinarily lucky bounce for Pittsburgh on this play. But that bounce wouldn't have matter had not Franco Harris been running down the field looking to block someone. Not being directly involved in the design of this play, it would have been easy for him to just be a bystander, but instead he ran down the field looking to make himself useful. And when fate bounced his way, he was ready to take advantage of it.
+Grover Garver Franco said many times he was taught by Joe Paterno to ALWAYS RUN TO THE BALL... that's the only reason he was in position to make that play.
+Grover Garver I don't think he was "running down the field looking to block someone." If you watch the replay, he was in at the line of scrimmage blocking the whole time, then when Bradshaw was scrambling he set out downfield to maybe be an outlet receiver. He actually was nonchalantly jogging towards the throw and just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I'm not knocking your view that it was a great play. It was. Just adjusting the scenario you portrayed.
the lesson here is: tackle the receiver instead of trying to kill him. Tatum launched himself w/ no intention to tackle--ball hit him and bounced to Franco. Still remember watching it as a kid and being pissed off bc steelers kicked ass whole game only to have snake stabler run one in w/ a few seconds left to take a 7-6 lead. I miss that kind of football.
+Grover Garver: Also, you can see Jimmy Warren raise his hands in celebration for a split-second after the ball was knocked away from Fuqua, assuming that it was an incomplete pass. Warren was the last man that Harris beat before scoring the touchdown. Perhaps Warren would have had a better shot to stop Harris if he had not let up for that split-second.
This is back when the Raiders were the most feared team in football.I lived in Oakland then. NO ONE wanted to play us., talk about fear factor. I remember watching this game live on T.V. back then. After the game everyone wandered the streets like zombies, we were in shock. It was like the world ended, the old neighbor lived and breathed the Raiders back in the 1970's. Lived less than a mile from the Oakland's field. I will NEVER forget the Immaculate Deception
I went Christmas shopping that afternoon with my parents and sisters. I was twelve years old at the time, and somewhat of a Raiders fan. On the drive home from the mall, we heard Kenny Stabler score a touchdown putting the Raiders ahead. As we approached our home, there were only a few seconds left in the game. When we pulled into the driveway, it was fourth down for the Steelers. I hurriedly ran into the house to turn on the television to watch the Raiders celebrate. When I turned on the set, I saw the Steelers celebrating and for a moment I couldn't understand what had happened. So...I missed perhaps the most famous play in history (didn't hear the radio in the car or see it on televison) because of amazingly bad timing. And yes, I think it was called correctly. Tatum hit the ball and Franco caught it before it hit the ground.
I was coaching the Junior bowlers at Castro Village Bowl that day , December 23, 1972. I had an earphone on and when the announcer screamed, "Batted away, incomplete!" The Raiders had won, 7-6. I turned my radio off. Moments later I turned it back on, only to hear, "The referees are still conferring...TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!!!" The bottom dropped out of my heart, as did I'm sure of millions of Raiders fans. We Raiders fans can whine all we want but videos do back up the play. The Raiders were supposedly ready for the undefeated Miami Dolphins, but we will never know. Miami went on to be 17-0 as they beat the fledgling Steelers the next week and then continued on into history. In remembrance, the Steelers play the Raiders this Saturday night, 50 years to the day. It isn't the same but life does go on. In retrospect, we Raiders fans have more to whine about than most football franchises. But in consideration, the Silver and Black, despite the last miserable 20 years, are still one of the most popular and storied franchises in all of sports. Win or lose, they are the "Raiduhs" and probably have more strange plays and outcomes than most others. Just look at yesterday's finish. Have a happy holiday season, everyone. "Just win, baby."
I know I am late to this party, but tonight's incredible walk off touchdown by the Vikings to advance them to the NFC title game is right up there as far as 'greatest play' goes
@@56conn6h This comment was three years ago and I have no idea what you're talking about. That being said, it was not right up there, otherwise people would still be talking about it. They arent.
@@jamesryan8672 The reason I'm here is because Monday NIght Football (01/03/22) just named it as the most incredible play in NFL history. So yeah, they are still talking about it. I've always heard of this play.
@@jckrell agree. I was saying the Vikings TD isn’t even close to being considered a top play. Nobody remembers that. Everyone remembers and still talks about the immaculate reception.
Cindy Gray that wasn't the controversy. It was. Back then there was a rule that after one offensive player touched the ball another offensive player could not interfere with the ball. But they ruled it that it hit the defensive player before Franco touched it therefor making it a touchdown
lol im here because of star talk podcast. i was listening about this while driving in my car and i had no idea what they are talking about. i had to youtube it when I got home.
At the time, NFL rules dictated that if the football had ricocheted off an offensive player first, then another offensive player could not make contact with the football. However, the ball deflected off of Tatum. Enough arguing. If Tatum had attempted an interception instead of a huge hit, then the Raiders would have won. The ball deflected off of Tatum, the Raiders had a premature celebration, and Franco Harris sprinted into the endzone for the winning touchdown. It doesn't matter how serendipitous this play was, the Steelers won, began a dynasty, and that's that.
Timmy Sullivan Thank you thank you thank you. Why o why does this have to be so damn complicated. Its like an uinintentional lateral, a fumble picked up by your own man. Sure I love old Raider highlight films but really, seeing Harris make sure he stays in bounds always is more fun for me, just because it looks like ballet.
Timmy Sullivan Yeah there's not much doubt the ball hit off Tatum considering how it bounced backward with so much momentum.....greatest play in NFL history!
+Grover Garver Yeah didn't matter if Fuqua touched it or not as long as Tatum touched it, and the ball obviously ricochets off Tatum judging by how it bounces straight backward.....replays today would not have overturned that call, no way. The refs got this one right even if they felt intimidated by the crowd.
No it's not. Winning 4 Super Bowls in the 1970s is like winning 1 today... The Steelers were all juiced up on 'roids back them. Pretty easy to win on PEDs... It's a more level playing field today except for the Cheatriots.
@@bthamus8334 I Think Your Brain Is Juiced Up Buddy There’s No Proof The Steelers Took Steroids To Cheat To Win .That Steelers Team Would Have Defeated Any Team Today And If You Dear Bring Up This Modern Athletes Crap The Steelers Back Then Didn’t Have Modern Medicine Or Modern Exercise Machines These Week Ass Players Have Today .They Didn’t Have These Bull Shit Rules To Protect Players Like They Do Today .You’ll Never See Another Team With 22 Players With 4 Rings And 10 Hall Of Famers Should Be 11 With L.C Greenwood !!!!!
Lask Maybe, but this one meant more in the greater scheme of things (i.e., playoff game). Plus, have you seen the gloves receivers wear now? They're stickier than Stick-Um.
Johnny Vargas The "greatness" of a catch should be measured by degree of difficulty times importance of game (or G = DD * IG). Degree of difficulty (DD) would be a number 1 thru 10 with 10 being the most difficult while importance of game (IG) would be 0.5 for exhibition game, 1.0 for regular season game, 5.0 for a playoff game and 10.0 for a championship game. I would give the Odell catch a 9.0 DD with a 1.0 IG since it was just a regular season game with total catch value = 9.0 (9 x 1). The "immaculate reception" had a degree of difficulty of 7.0 but since it was an AFC championship playoff game the total catch value would be 35 (7 x5). The "helmet catch" by David Tyree in Superbowl XLII had a degree of difficulty of 8 and since it was the championship game that catch rates a 80 (8 x 10). Also probably need to factor how important the catch was in the game since "immaculate reception" was the game winner, the "helmet catch" allowed winning drive to continue and well the Odell catch didn't even result in a win.
David Trethewey if QB's like Staubach, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Stabler, Fouts and Ken Anderson played today with these absurd rules they would destroy NFL defenses like a Ray Rice bachelor party!
I really hope that the Minneapolis Miracle turns into our Immaculate Reception. Sure the Vikings lost the NFC championship game to the Eagles, but the Steelers lost the AFC championship game to the Dolphins after the Immaculate Reception. Steelers then became one of the best franchise in the NFL after 1972. They won the Super Bowl only two years after.
There it is IN LIVING COLOR - the beginning OF A DYNASTY !! I remember watching this when I was 10 years old and it's the reason [ along with the BEST UNIFORM IN FOOTBALL ! ] that I've been a Steelers fan the last 45 years !! It also PROVES TWO THINGS - #!, that TATUM HIT THE BALL just as Gowdy had called it AND , #2 , that Franco DEFINITELY caught it before it hit the ground !
Maybe the •funniest• (and at the same time, perhaps the truest) comment about that game was by Ken Stabler. Some time later on, he said something to the effect of, "Well, how unbelievable was it that •I• scrambled for a thirty-yard touchdown run, against •that• defense?! After that, I suppose the Steelers had a miracle coming to them, too!"
mel bias you are so right all they had to do was just let him catch it and tackle him and it was over......Curt Gowdy at his best though on the call. This particular play was what really spawned the PREVENT defense
I know Tatum is the all-time dirty hitter but I gotta say it doesn't look like he was tryin to do much more than run toward Bradshaw's pass and catch it here. Check him out from 0:41onward. Sure, he gives the classic Tatum "NOW what" stance over Fuqua after the collision (where he's clearly the least affected), but this is ironically one of the times I don't think Tatum tried to play "assassin."
Jesus Christ no it wasn't lol, that would be like a lebron fan saying the start of the lebron dynasty of 6 straight title appearances with 3 rings, from 2011 to the present, started in 2009 when lebron hit the buzzer beater in game 2 of the east finals in a year in which he didn't even take his team to the finals, and would be another 2 years before the dynasty actually began, sound familiar...
I don't get it? This is a playoff game and you wind up scoring a miracle TD, and you don't do a touchdown dance in the end zone? I'm appalled. Franco obviously cared very little about how big that play was in NFL history.
This was a time where celebration dances was seen as an insult and not a flair. The game has changed so much, young blood. Look at all the films going back 50, hell even 10 years ago. Game changes constantly.
+MoMoMyPup10 Actually, this was during a time when athletes were men and didn't dance around like fools wasting time. Players had more respect for their opponents.
+MoMoMyPup10 It seemed like players just played the game without all the extra garbage that we see today on Fox or Espn highlights every week. It seems like today's player almost cares more about their celebration than the actual impact of the touchdown. Celebrating the win is enough, who needs a stupid dance? And I know you are probably being a little facetious with your post :)
I just watched the incredible finish of the Vikings/Saints playoff game. Equally as thrilling. i remember watching this when the game was broadcast live.
Two Things, 1) If the ball did hit Fuqua, there is no freaking way that the ball could rebound that accurately and at that speed to Harris. It would have broken every law of physics had that happened. 2) Regardless of who won, the winner of this game certainly would have been beaten by the Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game.
Still one of the top 10 plays in NFL history. I bet Raiders fans were sick after this play, because the team had the game all wrapped up at that point.
I don't know if this is true. But if number 20 didn't celebrate and the 2 other secondary players near would might of had a better chance of getting him. They all just started walking to the bench, and as I said early, number 20 celebrated for a second. Number 20 was the person Franco stiff armed, which meant he was really close to getting tackled. This concludes that number 20 shouldn't of celebrated to early, and he would have and a greater chance in tackling Harris. GO STEELERS
That's correct D Shav- it hit the defender. Play is NOT dead. If it hit the offensive player, the play would be over as the rules were at that time. Maybe you need football for dummies 101.
I don't think it was dumb luck. It didn't just happen to fall in his hands by some sheer happenstance. There was skill in his readiness, no one expects the ball to deflect in their direction, and not many people react quickly enough to make the catch. I think skill and readiness was very much involved. It didn't fall into his hands, he reached for it.
I'm a huge Steelers fan, but I find myself perplexed. How did the immaculate reception change the score from 7-6 to 7-13? If this is the original broadcast there was no point after from a field goal. Extra point for glorious play? XD
Also at 0:45, the trajectory of the ball would only have been possible if Tatum hit it. Fuqua hits it, it bounces in same direction, but since he was moving, much higher and farther,
2.19.16 aired Jeopardy episode, Daily Double answer is: In a 1972 AFC playoff game, Franco Harris made the winning TD with a "divine" shoestring catch dubbed this? And the question is: What is the Immaculate reception? Thanks for posting, exciting to see the real play, played out!!!
This is the game that lit the fuse and started the Steeler dynasty, the Raiders to this day are still crying about it, and hated the Steelers ever since.
I know this is still debated, but for what it's worth there isn't a lot of doubt in my mind that the ball did indeed touch Tatum, and that that contact is what redirected the football back in the opposite direction.
Raider players, coaches and fans will tell you the ball hit Frenchy first but you look at that replay again and again and you'd swear that ball hit Tatum first therefore it was a totally legal play. i'm trying to be impartial but geez look at it.
Honestly it's impossible to tell. I think people see it the way they want to see it. To me it looks like it hits the receiver's helmet. I don't see how the ball bounces the way it did otherwise. I feel like if it hit the DB, it would've hit the receiver on the way back. However it's just too blurry to actually tell what the ball does when it gets there.
I'm only here because of that play of the Eagles vs Falcons when Nick Foles threw the ball and it hit Keanu Neal's knee back to Torrey Smith's arms to then set up for an important Eagles field goal before halftime
The rules at the time say that if the ball bounces off a defensive player, any player can make the catch. Tatum hit the ball first, making it a fair ball to all players on the field. And for those of you who say the ball touched the ground, look at the replay, there's at least a foot between the ball and the ground. Even if it did touch the ground, the rule states that a player may not use the ground to assist in making the catch. Harris' hands were positioned on the side of the ball in a way that the ground had nothing to do with making the catch, even if it did touch the ground. The rule at the time said the ball can touch the ground during the catch if it doesn't assist the receiver in making the catch. So to all those salty Raiders fans that are still upset about this play, back off and call me up when you have a winning season.
The game that turned the Oakland Raiders salty. It wasn't the controversy that got them mad, it was the fact that they were felled by a freak play by a team that to that date, was a perennial loser and had never won a playoff game, but wins one at their expense in that fashion. The Raiders were among the elite organizations in football hailing from pretty California, and this upstart, "unworthy" team from a stuffy low class Steel town beat them. This day onward the Raiders had it out for the Steelers. They were going to prove that the Steelers were not worthy, not only of being a good team, but a team that wasn't worth being on the same field as them. Hence, Steelers-Raiders was born.
lol, upstart? the steelers are one of the oldest teams in the nfl, they have 27 years of existence on the raiders who only had one afl(who gives a rats ass about those) championship in 1967 prior to their first SB in 76(the steelers took 2 SBs before the raiders got one). I get they were bad, but upstart? come on now. (I'm a niners fan btw, so I'm not being a butthurt squealers fanboy, your explanation was just laughable)
+Alexander Garver that's what I'm sayin, I'm no steelers fan but I grew up around a family of them and I see the rivalries, while slightly diminished today because the raiders are little mediocre, it's still there.
I was 10 years old watching that game I am and always will be a huge raiders fan started when I got a hitch raiders uniform for Christmas at age six my uncle who was a very big Steelers fan still is we were watching game together with my dad my opinion bad call if instant was around then Raiders win the real bad call against Raiders came in 77 at Denver no doubt lytle fumbled the ball we did get one super bowl in 76 if not for some of the most unreal plays in NFL history and some very horrible officiating the raiders could easily won 4 may b 5 super bowls between 1968-1977 one of the greatest sports teams of all time that is a statistical fact silver black is back the move to Vegas gruden HC they b in SB soon
I am a diehard Browns fan. I remember this play. I've watched the replays dozens of times. There is no doubt in my mind that ----- ----- the officials got it right. It clearly hit Tatum. Harris, then was eligible as a receiver. He grabbed it just off of the ground. He did not appear to trap it. It was the right call, a legal reception & run for a TD. Raiders are still upset, I know, but they were not robbed. It was razor close, but the right call was made. Claude Abraham Forever a Cleveland Browns fan
So how many of the rest of you attended Rancocas Valley between 1963 and 198? when the Harris family were part of the football empire under Coach Bill Gordon? I did. I won't say who I am but I used to play "backyard" football with Francos youngest brother Kelly.
And IF it could be proven a legit catch then Raider Fan would say #32 stepped out of bounds...blah blah blah...blahblahblahSTEELERS ARE LUCKIEST TEAM EVER!! blah blah WAAAAAAAAAA!!! When ur The Super Bowl KINGS of course that's what everyone else will say. 😂😂😂
The raiders lost 1970 73,74, 75 and 77 arc champioship games! It's sad they dominated the 70s but couldn't get over the hump! They won the super bowl in 1976 and 1980! This game just showed us how lucky some teams like the steers are and how unlucky teams like the raiders can be!
Watch this video and then watch the David Tyree catch in Super Bowl XLII: ua-cam.com/video/GGSyzXKy6_I/v-deo.html It's really kinda cool how the plays had different outcomes and yet look eerily similar in many ways. Not implying anything, I just think it's cool:)
There was definetly some luck involved for the Steelers. But there was definitely a good amount of Hustle that led up to the work. Bradshaw almost got sacked, he looked like Big Ben moving around the pocket there, Franco was very alert to at least be near that deflection and make a play.. Was it a lucky bounce? Yes, but don't knock the Steelers Hustle because they found their luck because they were in the right place at the right time. You don't get in that position by being lucky and stupid. Here we go Steelers!
"Franco was very alert to at least be near that deflection and make a play"???... who are you kidding? The ball being deflected straight back to him, where he just happened to be standing, was pure luck and we all know it.
***** being 7 yards does not equate to being "near" the play. He was purely lucky for being where he was. That has nothing to do with any hustle whatsoever.
mikziv It was a little bit of both. Franco harris said that as the play progressed, he kept hearing the words of Joe Paterno in his head, "go to the ball". I
It's so great to see this on the original videotape. I am so sick of the grainy, poor quality, official NFL film, where they cut away to the end zone camera when Franco actually makes the catch. Reliving it (or ;living' it as some of us weren't born yet!) as it was seen live on TV is amazing.
+Alex Wise that's what raiders players think bcuz they're crybabies. It would defy all laws of physics for the ball to bounce off Fuqua and Harris getting there to catch it
Pittsburgh QB Bradshaw threw the Fuqua, who was immediately hit and lost possession. As the ball fell towards the ground, Steelers FB Harris scooped it up and ran for a game-winning touchdown. NFL Films has chosen it as the greatest play of all time.
Tatum blew this play. He was such a fucking cheapshot that all he cared about doing was cracking some skull on this play. If he'd just batted the ball down, or even made a play to intercept it, the game's over. But, no, good old Jack needs to go head hunting. What a clown.
That's right if there is not enough concrete indisputable evidence to overturn the call on the field then the call on the field stands. After just seeing all the angles available with older technology it seems like he caught it as a shoe string catch. Until someone produces evidence otherwise it will not count, however i think it would not be admissible and they will not go back and deny their super bowl or win because new evidence turns up to prove otherwise if it even exist and if it actually hit the ground because again no one knows for sure by video evidence alone ( not counting eye witness ect ) Final verdict the play stands, TOUCHDOWN. Trolls lose. Game over. LOL
The Raiders would have won the game if Tatum make a play on the ball instead of the usual cheap shot on the appointment, then pausing for a second admiring his work while Franco Harris ran in virtually untouched for the touchdown.
If this game happened 3 years later. That would have been automatic pass interference. Play clock goes dead and foul and is spotted within field goal range. Granting the Steelers an automatic win once the field goal team goes out there.
That is the original call, but not the original broadcast. Those are not 1972 graphics, and at the end it goes to Ahmad Rashad, Bob Costas and others. It must have been a retrospective.
A bad day for Bay Area football. Later that day, Staubach performed his first miracle comeback at Candlestick, 3 years before the Hail Mary at the Met.
The year that their fortunes finally turned around. Although they would lose to (undefeated) Miami in the playoffs and would lost also in '73, they were on a roll and write a new chapter in football history.
I kept hearing references, finally looked it up. There are possibilities that the play was dead, but, if the refs didn't call anything the play stands.
If it didn't hit the raiders player it wouldn't have been deflected back as far because the steelers reciever was running away from the ball and the raiders back was running straight for it.
This is a great upload. I think my Grandpa bet on the Raiders. I can remember him screaming at the TV when I was a kid lol I bet a lot of people lost money. And what's more the Perfect Season Fins had to go into PIT to beat them the next week in the AFC Champ game. (This because of a pre-determined rotating schedule). Add points to the Fins accomplishment for that when people say eh their schedule was weak. It's like well um they had to beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh after the Immaculate Reception!
Watching this in 2018 the most shocking thing is watching the people jump onto the field after the touchdown. That would result in an instant arrest or possibly “suicide by police” these days!
Beyond the "controversy" over this play, there's a good lesson here for young players. Of course, there was an extraordinarily lucky bounce for Pittsburgh on this play. But that bounce wouldn't have matter had not Franco Harris been running down the field looking to block someone. Not being directly involved in the design of this play, it would have been easy for him to just be a bystander, but instead he ran down the field looking to make himself useful. And when fate bounced his way, he was ready to take advantage of it.
+Grover Garver Franco said many times he was taught by Joe Paterno to ALWAYS RUN TO THE BALL... that's the only reason he was in position to make that play.
+Grover Garver I don't think he was "running down the field looking to block someone." If you watch the replay, he was in at the line of scrimmage blocking the whole time, then when Bradshaw was scrambling he set out downfield to maybe be an outlet receiver. He actually was nonchalantly jogging towards the throw and just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I'm not knocking your view that it was a great play. It was. Just adjusting the scenario you portrayed.
the lesson here is: tackle the receiver instead of trying to kill him. Tatum launched himself w/ no intention to tackle--ball hit him and bounced to Franco. Still remember watching it as a kid and being pissed off bc steelers kicked ass whole game only to have snake stabler run one in w/ a few seconds left to take a 7-6 lead. I miss that kind of football.
+Grover Garver: Also, you can see Jimmy Warren raise his hands in celebration for a split-second after the ball was knocked away from Fuqua, assuming that it was an incomplete pass. Warren was the last man that Harris beat before scoring the touchdown. Perhaps Warren would have had a better shot to stop Harris if he had not let up for that split-second.
***** good call, mane.
This is back when the Raiders were the most feared team in football.I lived in Oakland then. NO ONE wanted to play us., talk about fear factor. I remember watching this game live on T.V. back then. After the game everyone wandered the streets like zombies, we were in shock. It was like the world ended, the old neighbor lived and breathed the Raiders back in the 1970's. Lived less than a mile from the Oakland's field. I will NEVER forget the Immaculate Deception
Well, your raiders are becoming feared again slowly
Why are you calling it Deception?
I went Christmas shopping that afternoon with my parents and sisters. I was twelve years old at the time, and somewhat of a Raiders fan. On the drive home from the mall, we heard Kenny Stabler score a touchdown putting the Raiders ahead. As we approached our home, there were only a few seconds left in the game. When we pulled into the driveway, it was fourth down for the Steelers. I hurriedly ran into the house to turn on the television to watch the Raiders celebrate. When I turned on the set, I saw the Steelers celebrating and for a moment I couldn't understand what had happened. So...I missed perhaps the most famous play in history (didn't hear the radio in the car or see it on televison) because of amazingly bad timing. And yes, I think it was called correctly. Tatum hit the ball and Franco caught it before it hit the ground.
As a Raiders fan that was a tough loss, but I suffered a bigger loss later that day when I lost my father.
43 years ago today - the day God stepped down from the Heavens and declared Himself a Steelers fan.
If god was a penn state fan, he would’ve got Jerry Sandusky off those little boy rape charges
@brian soares I don’t even remember what point I was trying to make lol
"After further review, the call on the field stands. Touchdown Pittsburgh".
I was coaching the Junior bowlers at Castro Village Bowl that day , December 23, 1972. I had an earphone on and when the announcer screamed, "Batted away, incomplete!" The Raiders had won, 7-6. I turned my radio off. Moments later I turned it back on, only to hear, "The referees are still conferring...TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!!!"
The bottom dropped out of my heart, as did I'm sure of millions of Raiders fans. We Raiders fans can whine all we want but videos do back up the play.
The Raiders were supposedly ready for the undefeated Miami Dolphins, but we will never know. Miami went on to be 17-0 as they beat the fledgling Steelers the next week and then continued on into history.
In remembrance, the Steelers play the Raiders this Saturday night, 50 years to the day. It isn't the same but life does go on.
In retrospect, we Raiders fans have more to whine about than most football franchises. But in consideration, the Silver and Black, despite the last miserable 20 years, are still one of the most popular and storied franchises in all of sports.
Win or lose, they are the "Raiduhs" and probably have more strange plays and outcomes than most others. Just look at yesterday's finish.
Have a happy holiday season, everyone. "Just win, baby."
That was the greatest play in NFL history. I still remember watching when it happened on television.
I know I am late to this party, but tonight's incredible walk off touchdown by the Vikings to advance them to the NFC title game is right up there as far as 'greatest play' goes
@@56conn6h This comment was three years ago and I have no idea what you're talking about. That being said, it was not right up there, otherwise people would still be talking about it. They arent.
@@jamesryan8672 The reason I'm here is because Monday NIght Football (01/03/22) just named it as the most incredible play in NFL history. So yeah, they are still talking about it. I've always heard of this play.
@@jckrell agree. I was saying the Vikings TD isn’t even close to being considered a top play. Nobody remembers that. Everyone remembers and still talks about the immaculate reception.
I was at that game, and the ball never hit the ground. :)
Isn't this the game where it got punched away hit the Camera and bounced into the player's direction
The endzone seats high up are actually quite nice, and many seats at the game offer a great view.
Cindy Gray that wasn't the controversy. It was. Back then there was a rule that after one offensive player touched the ball another offensive player could not interfere with the ball. But they ruled it that it hit the defensive player before Franco touched it therefor making it a touchdown
I saw you there!
@brian soares I wrote that comment 3 years ago why the fuck are you commenting now lmfao
Who came here from the Star Talk Radio Sneak Peak?!!!!!
DoorM4n I don't watch Sportball so I had to look this up to understand
DoorM4n star what? I'm here because this was a great play.
Checking in. Never cared for sports. Had to see this play.
I came here after listening to Neil on star talk lok
lol im here because of star talk podcast. i was listening about this while driving in my car and i had no idea what they are talking about. i had to youtube it when I got home.
At the time, NFL rules dictated that if the football had ricocheted off an offensive player first, then another offensive player could not make contact with the football. However, the ball deflected off of Tatum. Enough arguing. If Tatum had attempted an interception instead of a huge hit, then the Raiders would have won. The ball deflected off of Tatum, the Raiders had a premature celebration, and Franco Harris sprinted into the endzone for the winning touchdown. It doesn't matter how serendipitous this play was, the Steelers won, began a dynasty, and that's that.
Timmy Sullivan Thank you thank you thank you. Why o why does this have to be so damn complicated. Its like an uinintentional lateral, a fumble picked up by your own man. Sure I love old Raider highlight films but really, seeing Harris make sure he stays in bounds always is more fun for me, just because it looks like ballet.
Timmy Sullivan Yeah there's not much doubt the ball hit off Tatum considering how it bounced backward with so much momentum.....greatest play in NFL history!
+joey anthony If it hit Tatum, it doesn't matter if it also hit Fucqua.
+Grover Garver Yeah didn't matter if Fuqua touched it or not as long as Tatum touched it, and the ball obviously ricochets off Tatum judging by how it bounces straight backward.....replays today would not have overturned that call, no way. The refs got this one right even if they felt intimidated by the crowd.
+Timmy Sullivan Yeah but... fuck the Steelers
One of the best plays in NFL history!
Winning 4 Super Bowls In The 70’s Is Like Winning 8 Super Bowls Today !!
No it's not. Winning 4 Super Bowls in the 1970s is like winning 1 today... The Steelers were all juiced up on 'roids back them. Pretty easy to win on PEDs... It's a more level playing field today except for the Cheatriots.
@@bthamus8334 I Think Your Brain Is Juiced Up Buddy There’s No Proof The Steelers Took Steroids To Cheat To Win .That Steelers Team Would Have Defeated Any Team Today And If You Dear Bring Up This Modern Athletes Crap The Steelers Back Then Didn’t Have Modern Medicine Or Modern Exercise Machines These Week Ass Players Have Today .They Didn’t Have These Bull Shit Rules To Protect Players Like They Do Today .You’ll Never See Another Team With 22 Players With 4 Rings And 10 Hall Of Famers Should Be 11 With L.C Greenwood !!!!!
No. Odell Beckham Jr's catch is not greater than this one.
This catch was luck, Odell's was skill.
Lask
Maybe, but this one meant more in the greater scheme of things (i.e., playoff game). Plus, have you seen the gloves receivers wear now? They're stickier than Stick-Um.
Tom Bradley Jr. Stickum wasnt banned until 1981
Johnny Vargas The "greatness" of a catch should be measured by degree of difficulty times importance of game (or G = DD * IG). Degree of difficulty (DD) would be a number 1 thru 10 with 10 being the most difficult while importance of game (IG) would be 0.5 for exhibition game, 1.0 for regular season game, 5.0 for a playoff game and 10.0 for a championship game. I would give the Odell catch a 9.0 DD with a 1.0 IG since it was just a regular season game with total catch value = 9.0 (9 x 1). The "immaculate reception" had a degree of difficulty of 7.0 but since it was an AFC championship playoff game the total catch value would be 35 (7 x5). The "helmet catch" by David Tyree in Superbowl XLII had a degree of difficulty of 8 and since it was the championship game that catch rates a 80 (8 x 10). Also probably need to factor how important the catch was in the game since "immaculate reception" was the game winner, the "helmet catch" allowed winning drive to continue and well the Odell catch didn't even result in a win.
Lynn Swann made a half dozen Super Bowl catches better than this fortunate double deflection
Is it just me or are the qb's back then really good at throwing tight ones...
haven't you heard? Literally everything was better in the old days
If Eli threw as many picks as they did back in the day he'd be literally scalped.
David Trethewey if QB's like Staubach, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Stabler, Fouts and Ken Anderson played today with these absurd rules they would destroy NFL defenses like a Ray Rice bachelor party!
*****
steve largent with them hands...
***** held the national record, actually
For those of you whining here's a thought: why couldn't they tackle Harris?
+Jonathan Nguy Excellent!!!!
I really hope that the Minneapolis Miracle turns into our Immaculate Reception. Sure the Vikings lost the NFC championship game to the Eagles, but the Steelers lost the AFC championship game to the Dolphins after the Immaculate Reception. Steelers then became one of the best franchise in the NFL after 1972. They won the Super Bowl only two years after.
There it is IN LIVING COLOR - the beginning OF A DYNASTY !! I remember watching this when I was 10 years old and it's the reason [ along with the BEST UNIFORM IN FOOTBALL ! ] that I've been a Steelers fan the last 45 years !! It also PROVES TWO THINGS - #!, that TATUM HIT THE BALL just as Gowdy had called it AND , #2 , that Franco DEFINITELY caught it before it hit the ground !
Your an asshole!
I can just hear Bradshaw in the huddle before the Harris final touchdown . . "Alright, ' Immaculate Reception' on two. Now 'break' !
Bradshaw doesn't get enough credit. I'm not saying he's the best, but he deserves to be in the discussion at least.
Maybe the •funniest• (and at the same time, perhaps the truest) comment about that game was by Ken Stabler. Some time later on, he said something to the effect of,
"Well, how unbelievable was it that •I• scrambled for a thirty-yard touchdown run, against •that• defense?! After that, I suppose the Steelers had a miracle coming to them, too!"
tatum went for the knockout and it cost him the game.
mel bias you are so right all they had to do was just let him catch it and tackle him and it was over......Curt Gowdy at his best though on the call. This particular play was what really spawned the PREVENT defense
Tatum was looking for the big time but no one ever talks about that and never taken to task about it
You are absolutely right!
I know Tatum is the all-time dirty hitter but I gotta say it doesn't look like he was tryin to do much more than run toward Bradshaw's pass and catch it here. Check him out from 0:41onward. Sure, he gives the classic Tatum "NOW what" stance over Fuqua after the collision (where he's clearly the least affected), but this is ironically one of the times I don't think Tatum tried to play "assassin."
Especially the second angle you mention. I agree.
The start of a Dynasty
Jesus Christ no it wasn't lol, that would be like a lebron fan saying the start of the lebron dynasty of 6 straight title appearances with 3 rings, from 2011 to the present, started in 2009 when lebron hit the buzzer beater in game 2 of the east finals in a year in which he didn't even take his team to the finals, and would be another 2 years before the dynasty actually began, sound familiar...
A dynasty is FOUR or more consecutive championships, last accomplished by my beloved NY Islanders in 1980-84.
Steelers dynasty did not start until 2 yrs later.
I don't get it? This is a playoff game and you wind up scoring a miracle TD, and you don't do a touchdown dance in the end zone? I'm appalled. Franco obviously cared very little about how big that play was in NFL history.
This was a time where celebration dances was seen as an insult and not a flair. The game has changed so much, young blood. Look at all the films going back 50, hell even 10 years ago. Game changes constantly.
+Leobardo Gonzalez being that I watched that game on tv then I'm not sure "young blood" applies. :)
+MoMoMyPup10 Also, Chuck Noll would've had his head. The Emperor didn't believe in that silly shit, man.
+MoMoMyPup10 Actually, this was during a time when athletes were men and didn't dance around like fools wasting time. Players had more respect for their opponents.
+MoMoMyPup10 It seemed like players just played the game without all the extra garbage that we see today on Fox or Espn highlights every week. It seems like today's player almost cares more about their celebration than the actual impact of the touchdown. Celebrating the win is enough, who needs a stupid dance? And I know you are probably being a little facetious with your post :)
I just watched the incredible finish of the Vikings/Saints playoff game.
Equally as thrilling.
i remember watching this when the game was broadcast live.
What a moment!
Two Things,
1) If the ball did hit Fuqua, there is no freaking way that the ball could rebound that accurately and at that speed to Harris. It would have broken every law of physics had that happened.
2) Regardless of who won, the winner of this game certainly would have been beaten by the Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game.
if the DB hit Fuqua's hands/arms into the ball it very well could have bounced back like that.
Nathaniel Levesque curious as to know if Miami had to play Oakland where the game would have been played
STILL the greatest play in Football history. Period. BOOM!
Who else is here from This is Us?
not me
Still one of the top 10 plays in NFL history. I bet Raiders fans were sick after this play, because the team had the game all wrapped up at that point.
Terry had some decent mobility back in his early career based on this play.
My RCIA class on the Immaculate Conception brought me here.
Yeah, but could the 72 Steelers have beaten the 95 Chicago Bulls?
Good question
not in basketball
+Adam Lenhardt you ruined it
+sdmestayer They wouldn't stand a chance against the 2002 Oakland A's
the steelers can beat john cena too lmao
I don't know if this is true. But if number 20 didn't celebrate and the 2 other secondary players near would might of had a better chance of getting him. They all just started walking to the bench, and as I said early, number 20 celebrated for a second. Number 20 was the person Franco stiff armed, which meant he was really close to getting tackled. This concludes that number 20 shouldn't of celebrated to early, and he would have and a greater chance in tackling Harris. GO STEELERS
Immaculate Reception on the Immaculate Conception(been waiting all year to write that)
Youre gay
Immaculate conception or not...it still takes 9 months for a baby to be born....
That's correct D Shav- it hit the defender. Play is NOT dead. If it hit the offensive player, the play would be over as the rules were at that time. Maybe you need football for dummies 101.
I don't think it was dumb luck. It didn't just happen to fall in his hands by some sheer happenstance.
There was skill in his readiness, no one expects the ball to deflect in their direction, and not many people react quickly enough to make the catch. I think skill and readiness was very much involved. It didn't fall into his hands, he reached for it.
I'm a huge Steelers fan, but I find myself perplexed. How did the immaculate reception change the score from 7-6 to 7-13? If this is the original broadcast there was no point after from a field goal. Extra point for glorious play? XD
Are you just that stupid
+Ben Bass lol
+Draven Flores Did they kick a field goal afterwards? I don't remember.
Ben Bass Well, since you're so smart tell me, did they kick a field goal or not?
Buck Weet Exactly my question.
that'll learn that dopey raiders player for throwing his hands up in celebration too early. Bet they weren't celebrating 10 seconds later.
Happy Birthday!! 42 years ago today!! 12/23/72
RIP Chuck Noll!!! :((
#20 and the guy to his left both could've stopped him, great awareness..
Also at 0:45, the trajectory of the ball would only have been possible if Tatum hit it. Fuqua hits it, it bounces in same direction, but since he was moving, much higher and farther,
2.19.16 aired Jeopardy episode, Daily Double answer is: In a 1972 AFC playoff game, Franco Harris made the winning TD with a "divine" shoestring catch dubbed this? And the question is: What is the Immaculate reception? Thanks for posting, exciting to see the real play, played out!!!
This is the game that lit the fuse and started the Steeler dynasty, the Raiders to this day are still crying about it, and hated the Steelers ever since.
+Cornell Lashley I'm sure Madden still talks about it.
The immaculate Deception!!
I know this is still debated, but for what it's worth there isn't a lot of doubt in my mind that the ball did indeed touch Tatum, and that that contact is what redirected the football back in the opposite direction.
With Brady deflating footballs, this will never happen again
Just one of many times that the Raiders got screwed! But good hit Tatum! The beast from Passaic!
Raider players, coaches and fans will tell you the ball hit Frenchy first but you look at that replay again and again and you'd swear that ball hit Tatum first therefore it was a totally legal play. i'm trying to be impartial but geez look at it.
Honestly it's impossible to tell. I think people see it the way they want to see it.
To me it looks like it hits the receiver's helmet. I don't see how the ball bounces the way it did otherwise. I feel like if it hit the DB, it would've hit the receiver on the way back. However it's just too blurry to actually tell what the ball does when it gets there.
This is the NFL's version of the Zapruder film.
Stephen Colbert brought me here!
+Paul Sutherland In what context was it featured on his show? I missed it.
I'm only here because of that play of the Eagles vs Falcons when Nick Foles threw the ball and it hit Keanu Neal's knee back to Torrey Smith's arms to then set up for an important Eagles field goal before halftime
Quem veio por causa do Everaldo Marques?
Vinicius Oliveira mais um kkkk
Vinicius Oliveira kkkkkkkkk
O/
The rules at the time say that if the ball bounces off a defensive player, any player can make the catch. Tatum hit the ball first, making it a fair ball to all players on the field. And for those of you who say the ball touched the ground, look at the replay, there's at least a foot between the ball and the ground. Even if it did touch the ground, the rule states that a player may not use the ground to assist in making the catch. Harris' hands were positioned on the side of the ball in a way that the ground had nothing to do with making the catch, even if it did touch the ground. The rule at the time said the ball can touch the ground during the catch if it doesn't assist the receiver in making the catch. So to all those salty Raiders fans that are still upset about this play, back off and call me up when you have a winning season.
If You Move The 1974 Draft To 1972 The Steelers Could Of Won 6 Super Bowls In 8 Years !
A dynasty in the making!
+Randy Ventresca The Miami Dolphins dynasty, that is... the Steelers would have to wait a couple more years for their turn.
The game that turned the Oakland Raiders salty.
It wasn't the controversy that got them mad, it was the fact that they were felled by a freak play by a team that to that date, was a perennial loser and had never won a playoff game, but wins one at their expense in that fashion. The Raiders were among the elite organizations in football hailing from pretty California, and this upstart, "unworthy" team from a stuffy low class Steel town beat them.
This day onward the Raiders had it out for the Steelers. They were going to prove that the Steelers were not worthy, not only of being a good team, but a team that wasn't worth being on the same field as them.
Hence, Steelers-Raiders was born.
lol, upstart? the steelers are one of the oldest teams in the nfl, they have 27 years of existence on the raiders who only had one afl(who gives a rats ass about those) championship in 1967 prior to their first SB in 76(the steelers took 2 SBs before the raiders got one). I get they were bad, but upstart? come on now. (I'm a niners fan btw, so I'm not being a butthurt squealers fanboy, your explanation was just laughable)
+Alexander Garver that's what I'm sayin, I'm no steelers fan but I grew up around a family of them and I see the rivalries, while slightly diminished today because the raiders are little mediocre, it's still there.
I was 10 years old watching that game I am and always will be a huge raiders fan started when I got a hitch raiders uniform for Christmas at age six my uncle who was a very big Steelers fan still is we were watching game together with my dad my opinion bad call if instant was around then Raiders win the real bad call against Raiders came in 77 at Denver no doubt lytle fumbled the ball we did get one super bowl in 76 if not for some of the most unreal plays in NFL history and some very horrible officiating the raiders could easily won 4 may b 5 super bowls between 1968-1977 one of the greatest sports teams of all time that is a statistical fact silver black is back the move to Vegas gruden HC they b in SB soon
Franco Harris created a dynasty that day
I am a diehard Browns fan. I remember this play. I've watched the replays dozens of times. There is no doubt in my mind that -----
----- the officials got it right. It clearly hit Tatum. Harris, then was eligible as a receiver. He grabbed it just off of the ground. He did not appear to trap it.
It was the right call, a legal reception & run for a TD. Raiders are still upset, I know, but they were not robbed. It was razor close, but the right call was made.
Claude Abraham
Forever a Cleveland Browns fan
There signs of hope in Cleveland yet.....
They say:
" PITTSBURGH - 135 MILES "
So how many of the rest of you attended Rancocas Valley between 1963 and 198? when the Harris family were part of the football empire under Coach Bill Gordon? I did. I won't say who I am but I used to play "backyard" football with Francos youngest brother Kelly.
Only here because of This Is Us.... didn't understand the reference lol
Bradshaw throws a 40 yd laser beam that never gets over 10 ft off the ground. Damn!
Love the fans jumping out of the stands on to the field. Utter bedlam.
This was the sparkplug for the Steeler's dynasty!
I love how #20 raises his arm to celebrate when Tatum breaks the pass up......
I love watching Basketball.
And IF it could be proven a legit catch then Raider Fan would say #32 stepped out of bounds...blah blah blah...blahblahblahSTEELERS ARE LUCKIEST TEAM EVER!! blah blah WAAAAAAAAAA!!! When ur The Super Bowl KINGS of course that's what everyone else will say. 😂😂😂
Pittsburgh Dad brought me here
The raiders lost 1970 73,74, 75 and 77 arc champioship games! It's sad they dominated the 70s but couldn't get over the hump! They won the super bowl in 1976 and 1980! This game just showed us how lucky some teams like the steers are and how unlucky teams like the raiders can be!
This play was dumb luck not skill.. Sorry but its overrated.
Go away
raiders fan.
J. Robert Oppenheimer Wrong. I'm a lifetime Seahawks fan.. I admit it was a cool play, but you gotta admit it was dumb luck..
FerrariDMC "lifetime" sure...
Nick Costello Look at my videos.. I live in Seattle.. I have lived in Washington state my entire life.
Watch this video and then watch the David Tyree catch in Super Bowl XLII: ua-cam.com/video/GGSyzXKy6_I/v-deo.html It's really kinda cool how the plays had different outcomes and yet look eerily similar in many ways. Not implying anything, I just think it's cool:)
There was definetly some luck involved for the Steelers. But there was definitely a good amount of Hustle that led up to the work. Bradshaw almost got sacked, he looked like Big Ben moving around the pocket there, Franco was very alert to at least be near that deflection and make a play.. Was it a lucky bounce? Yes, but don't knock the Steelers Hustle because they found their luck because they were in the right place at the right time. You don't get in that position by being lucky and stupid.
Here we go Steelers!
"Franco was very alert to at least be near that deflection and make a play"???... who are you kidding? The ball being deflected straight back to him, where he just happened to be standing, was pure luck and we all know it.
***** being 7 yards does not equate to being "near" the play. He was purely lucky for being where he was. That has nothing to do with any hustle whatsoever.
mikziv It was a little bit of both. Franco harris said that as the play progressed, he kept hearing the words of Joe Paterno in his head, "go to the ball". I
It's so great to see this on the original videotape. I am so sick of the grainy, poor quality, official NFL film, where they cut away to the end zone camera when Franco actually makes the catch. Reliving it (or ;living' it as some of us weren't born yet!) as it was seen live on TV is amazing.
Tatum hit the player, not the ball....2 consecutive offensive players touched the ball and according to rule in place at the time=Incomplete Pass
The ball very clearly hit Tatum. There is no way in hell that it would bounce back that far if he didn't hit it which = TD
The ref went into the booth and asked how many Pittsburgh police officers were there and then he went out and said legal play
Okay cool, the ball still clearly hit Tatum or else it would not have bounced that for back
+Alex Wise that's what raiders players think bcuz they're crybabies. It would defy all laws of physics for the ball to bounce off Fuqua and Harris getting there to catch it
Not really a complaint- I just wanted to point out that there is a cut in this footage. The score goes from 7-6 to 13-7 with no extra point.
Pittsburgh QB Bradshaw threw the Fuqua, who was immediately hit and lost possession. As the ball fell towards the ground, Steelers FB Harris scooped it up and ran for a game-winning touchdown. NFL Films has chosen it as the greatest play of all time.
Tatum blew this play. He was such a fucking cheapshot that all he cared about doing was cracking some skull on this play. If he'd just batted the ball down, or even made a play to intercept it, the game's over. But, no, good old Jack needs to go head hunting. What a clown.
#20 celebrating like and idiot as the play unfolds RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. Good to see that sort of thing isn't something new.
That's right if there is not enough concrete indisputable evidence to overturn the call on the field then the call on the field stands. After just seeing all the angles available with older technology it seems like he caught it as a shoe string catch. Until someone produces evidence otherwise it will not count, however i think it would not be admissible and they will not go back and deny their super bowl or win because new evidence turns up to prove otherwise if it even exist and if it actually hit the ground because again no one knows for sure by video evidence alone ( not counting eye witness ect ) Final verdict the play stands, TOUCHDOWN. Trolls lose. Game over. LOL
This Is Us brought me here today.
Greatest play in NFL history! Steelers rule!
The Raiders would have won the game if Tatum make a play on the ball instead of the usual cheap shot on the appointment, then pausing for a second admiring his work while Franco Harris ran in virtually untouched for the touchdown.
If this game happened 3 years later. That would have been automatic pass interference. Play clock goes dead and foul and is spotted within field goal range. Granting the Steelers an automatic win once the field goal team goes out there.
This may have started the Steelers' dynasty of the 70s.
That is the original call, but not the original broadcast. Those are not 1972 graphics, and at the end it goes to Ahmad Rashad, Bob Costas and others. It must have been a retrospective.
Talk about shit-ass luck...Cope coined the phrase "Immaculate Reception" for all time sometime afterwards.
Freeze it at 0:08. You see a brown line(the ball)heading off, coming from Tatum's shoulder. Yep, Tatum hit it.
A bad day for Bay Area football. Later that day, Staubach performed his first miracle comeback at Candlestick, 3 years before the Hail Mary at the Met.
The year that their fortunes finally turned around. Although they would lose to (undefeated) Miami in the playoffs and would lost also in '73, they were on a roll and write a new chapter in football history.
The Immaculate reception legendary historical . That's right Raiders fans recognize that! still Best reckect nice that tell today.
This is like Pennsylvanias other team, the eagles, miracle at the Meadowlands... it was just as unbelievable when it occured.
I kept hearing references, finally looked it up. There are possibilities that the play was dead, but, if the refs didn't call anything the play stands.
If it didn't hit the raiders player it wouldn't have been deflected back as far because the steelers reciever was running away from the ball and the raiders back was running straight for it.
Why can’t John Fuqua just be interviewed today as a 70+ year old and be asked of it grazed his hands?
Jack Tatum was brutal!
I think the ball kinda touched Fuquas hands and bounced off of Tatums shoulder pads over to Harris who caught it and ran it in for the score
This is a great upload. I think my Grandpa bet on the Raiders. I can remember him screaming at the TV when I was a kid lol I bet a lot of people lost money. And what's more the Perfect Season Fins had to go into PIT to beat them the next week in the AFC Champ game. (This because of a pre-determined rotating schedule). Add points to the Fins accomplishment for that when people say eh their schedule was weak. It's like well um they had to beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh after the Immaculate Reception!
Watching this in 2018 the most shocking thing is watching the people jump onto the field after the touchdown. That would result in an instant arrest or possibly “suicide by police” these days!