Ranking the top 10 picks in Steelers history: Franco Harris gallops into the No. 4 spot

To help count down the days until the 2026 NFL Draft here in Pittsburgh, the Post-Gazette's beat reporters will rank the top 10 draft picks in Steelers history. The series will conclude April 23, the day of the first round of the draft at Acrisure Stadium. Let the debates begin.

4. Franco Harris

Round 1, pick 13 in 1972

12 seasons with Pittsburgh

Franco Harris wasn't considered the best back to come out of Penn State in 1972. His teammate, Lydell Mitchell, was the star of the Nittany Lions' backfield and Harris was his blocking back.

What's more, legend has it that Steelers coach Chuck Noll wanted to take Robert Newhouse, a running back from Houston, with the 13th overall pick in the draft, not Harris.

Mitchell and Newhouse each lasted until the second round and had nice careers in the league. But nothing like Harris. His arrival with the Steelers instantly changed the fortunes of the franchise.

"My grandfather was once quoted as saying, ‘Before Franco got here, we didn't win much. Since he got here, we don't lose,' " said team president Art Rooney II, remembering the words of the Steelers' late founder, Art Rooney Sr.

Indeed, Harris was the league's rookie of the year in 1972, was responsible for authoring the greatest play in history with the Immaculate Reception and was the MVP of Super Bowl IX - the first of four Super Bowl victories in a dominant six-year period.

Harris was named to nine Pro Bowls in his career and retired in 1984 as the league's third all-time leading rusher with 12,120 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Harris had such a powerful impact on the franchise that he became only the second modern-era Steelers player - Joe Greene was the other - to have his jersey number retired.

Sadly, Harris suddenly died three days before he was to have his jersey retired at halftime of a Dec. 24 game against the Las Vegas Raiders - the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.

The PG's top 10:

10. Aaron Smith, DE, 1999

9. Mike Wagner, S, 1971

8. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, 2004

7. John Stallworth, WR, 1974

6. L.C. Greenwood, DE, 1969

5. Hines Ward, WR, 1998

4. Franco Harris, RB, 1972

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 8:04 AM.