Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

St Andrews ‘slapstick’ moment recalled as golf charity expresses ‘sadness’ at death of NFL legend Franco Harris

Franco Harris, Renee Powell and Kenny Wood at The Open in St Andrews in 2015. Image: John Stewart
Franco Harris, Renee Powell and Kenny Wood at The Open in St Andrews in 2015. Image: John Stewart

A St Andrews-based charity set up to provide “under-served children” with life changing experiences through international travel, education and the game of golf, has expressed “deep sadness” at the passing of Super Bowl legend Franco Harris, aged 72.

New Links founder Dr Kenny Wood, who is a St Andrews University astrophysicist, and St Andrews man John Stewart who got involved with the charity through his friendship with Kenny, spent time with Franco and his wife Dana when they came to St Andrews in 2015.

Renee Powell and former American football legend Franco Harris at The Open, St Andrews, in 2015

He visited during The Open Championship that year to help Renee Powell – the second African American woman ever to compete on the LPGA Tour – mark becoming an honorary member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club that year.

‘Slapstick moment’

John Stewart told The Courier: “Franco was a diffident and gentle presence.

“During a weather delay at The Open I introduced him to some American friends in the St Andrews Golf Club and they nearly fell off their chairs.

“It was a slapstick moment. They couldn’t get over it.

“One of them was so shaken he could only think to take photos of Franco’s back!

“I had to take his phone away and do some images with Franco facing the camera.

Franco Harris and The Courier’s Michael Alexander at The Open, St Andrews, in 2015. Image: John Stewart

“But the most amazing thing was walking up The Links road with Franco and hearing the whispers of recognition spreading through the crowd gathered beside the 18th green of the Old Course.

“It really was like a soft breeze through trees: “it’s Franco…there’s Franco”. Just total respect and, actually, awe.”

New Links co-founder Kenny Wood added: “I will never forget our time with Renee and Franco at The Open. It really opened my eyes to how people know, recognise and love a superstar”.

Who was Franco Harris?

Franco Harris was a four-time Super Bowl winner, the person responsible for the most iconic play in NFL history, and one of the principal figures who made the Pittsburgh Steelers the most famous team of the day.

Franco Harris in action in the 1970s

In later life, Franco was an outstanding humanitarian who helped people in many practical ways, including as president of Super Bakery which provides nutritional food to school kids.

Harris won the Super Bowl four times with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s but was most famous for making the catch that became known as the ‘Immaculate Reception‘ in 1972.

With the Steelers trailing at the end of a play-off game with the Oakland Raiders, a pass ricocheted to Harris and he ran in a game-winning touchdown.

In 2019, the play was voted as the greatest in NFL history.

With 22 seconds left in the AFC divisional play-off on December 23 1972, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw attempted a throw towards John Fuqua but the ball bounced towards Harris, who stooped to catch the loose ball before charging down the sideline to claim a 60-yard touchdown.

That helped Pittsburgh to a 13-7 win – their first in the play-offs – and although they did not reach the Super Bowl that season, Harris went on to help them become NFL champions four times in the next seven years.

50th anniversary

The Steelers are set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception on Saturday December 24 when they again host the Raiders, who are now based in Las Vegas, and Harris’ famous number 32 will also be retired.

Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said: “We have lost an incredible football player, an incredible ambassador to the Hall and most importantly, we have lost one of the finest gentlemen anyone will ever meet.”

Conversation