The Brian D. O'Leary Show - Remembering the great Franco Harris - December 21, 2022

<p>The Brian D. O’Leary Show</p> <p><em>December 21, 2022</em></p> <p>Bill Schonely</p> <p>“… wherever you may be…”</p> <p><a href="https://youtu.be/wna_mCmHQeI">The Final Goodbye for “The Schonz”</a></p> <p><a href="https://youtu.be/wna_mCmHQeI">https://youtu.be/wna_mCmHQeI</a></p> <p>Franco Harris</p> <p><em><a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-hall-of-fame-rb-franco-harris-author-of-the-immaculate-reception-dies-a">Steelers Hall of Fame RB Franco Harris, author of 'The Immaculate Reception,' dies at 72</a></em></p> <p>Starting with the 1980 season, Harris became the career rushing leader among active players.</p> <p>The 1984 Seattle Seahawks did have the <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WarnCu00.htm">“Original” Curt Warner</a> on the roster, but the 3rd pick of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Penn State was injured in the opening game versus the Cleveland Browns, ending his season.</p> <p>Franco Harris—coming off a season in 1983 where he rushed for 1,007 yards—was released by the Steelers during training camp before the 1984 season, over an ostensible pay dispute.</p> <p>After the 1983 season, Harris was only 363 yards away from breaking Jim Brown’s career rushing record. Harris joined the Seahawks in September, but only ended up playing in 8 games and ended up with 170 yards rushing on the season. He never played in the NFL again.</p> <p>After taping this episode, John Ziegler tweeted that Franco had been at work on a podcast of his own about the Penn State-Paterno-Sandusky case. Here is the link:</p> <p><a href="https://www.uponfurtherreviewpsu.com/">Upon Further Review</a></p> <p>NFL All-Time Leading Rushers</p> <p>Harris is now 15th all-time. Jim Brown is 11th!</p> <p>+ indicates Pro Football Hall of Fame</p> <p>Highlighted players mentioned in podcast</p> <p>Rank</p> <p>Player</p> <p>Yds</p> <p>Years</p> <p>1</p> <p>Emmitt Smith+</p> <p>18,355</p> <p>1990-2004</p> <p>2</p> <p>Walter Payton+</p> <p>16,726</p> <p>1975-1987</p> <p>3</p> <p>Frank Gore</p> <p>16,000</p> <p>2005-2020</p> <p>4</p> <p>Barry Sanders+</p> <p>15,269</p> <p>1989-1998</p> <p>5</p> <p>Adrian Peterson</p> <p>14,918</p> <p>2007-2021</p> <p>6</p> <p>Curtis Martin+</p> <p>14,101</p> <p>1995-2005</p> <p>7</p> <p>LaDainian Tomlinson+</p> <p>13,684</p> <p>2001-2011</p> <p>8</p> <p>Jerome Bettis+</p> <p>13,662</p> <p>1993-2005</p> <p>9</p> <p>Eric Dickerson+</p> <p>13,259</p> <p>1983-1993</p> <p>10</p> <p>Tony Dorsett+</p> <p>12,739</p> <p>1977-1988</p> <p>11</p> <p>Jim Brown+</p> <p>12,312</p> <p>1957-1965</p> <p>12</p> <p>Marshall Faulk+</p> <p>12,279</p> <p>1994-2005</p> <p>13</p> <p>Edgerrin James+</p> <p>12,246</p> <p>1999-2009</p> <p>14</p> <p>Marcus Allen+</p> <p>12,243</p> <p>1982-1997</p> <p>15</p> <p>Franco Harris+</p> <p>12,120</p> <p>1972-1984</p> <p>16</p> <p>Thurman Thomas+</p> <p>12,074</p> <p>1988-2000</p> <p>17</p> <p>Fred Taylor</p> <p>11,695</p> <p>1998-2010</p> <p>18</p> <p>Steven Jackson</p> <p>11,438</p> <p>2004-2015</p> <p>19</p> <p>John Riggins+</p> <p>11,352</p> <p>1971-1985</p> <p>20</p> <p>Corey Dillon</p> <p>11,241</p> <p>1997-2006</p> <p>Joe Paterno</p> <p>Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno">article about JoePa</a> (<em>Warning</em>: some information, especially about the end of his career is dubious.)</p> <p>The Immaculate Reception</p> <p><a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/how-the-immaculate-reception-shaped-steelers-history">How the Immaculate Reception shaped Steelers history</a></p> <p>Wikipedia on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Reception">Immaculate Reception</a></p> <p>Harris caught a deflected pass, leading to a 13-7 Steelers victory over their rival Oakl…</p>