@Invader010 And people say the undefeated Dolphins that season had an easy schedule but forget they got to the AFC title game with a backup, broken down Earl Morrall at quarterback and had to play that game IN Pittsburgh! There was no home field advantage based on record then. It changed the next season.
When I was in safe one of my teachers that played football with us threw a deep pass to me when i was getting covered by my older brother ,I caught it and juked out somebody for a touchdown and my teacher said it was another immaculate reception.
Joe Buck: "Bradshaw, under pressure, stays on his feet, it's incomplete, no, it's caught by Harris, still going and now in for the touchdown, no flags. Let's go down to the field with Pam Oliver"
This play was not a farce, instead it was one of destiny. The chances of that happening were a billion to one and yet it did. Had Tatum played the ball, had fuqua not been where he was, had harris been a step behind where he was it would've been a different story and the Steelers may not have had the confidence in the future to reach the heights they did. The history books are written, now there's nothing left to do other than reminicse/cry(lol raiders).
My personal thoughts : If the Raiders had won this game, they would have had no problems with the Dolphins the following week. And even fewer problems with the Redskins.
If Raiders safety Jack Tatum had played the ball instead of going for the big knock-out hit on Steelers Frenchy Fuqua, the "immaculate reception" would probably have never happened.
Yes you are right it was a divisional payoff game... Miami went on to play Washington for the Superbowl and the undefeated season. I agree Jake Tatum was an assassin as he name suggested and always tried to kill his opponents with crazy hard hits. He actually paralyzed a Patriots player some years later. You are right if he just went for the ball rather than try to wipe out Frenchy things might have been much different that day, however I'm glad they weren't.. Have a happy holiday!
tonto -- actually it was in the divisional round of the playoffs and was the first time the Steelers won any post-season game in 40 years. The AFC championship game was the next week with the Dolphins edging the Steelers 21-17, to remain undefeated. Then Miami won the SB to complete the only undefeated season in modern NFL history.
I have to laugh at Jack Tatum. He might have intercepted had he simply gone for the ball but he couldn't resist giving Fuqua a whack instead.
@theoldgaloot I dont think he could have picked it, but he certainly did his job of breaking up the play, it was just bad luck for him that the ball made that crazy deflection.
91gt - It occured with seconds on the clock in the 4th quarter of the AFC Championship while the Steeler were down to Oakland, 2nd: it was in serious jeapordy of being called illegal because of the NFL rules in 1972, 3rd: some say it was the defining moment of the 1970's Steelers that truned the tides on a franchise that had not seen any type of success since it inception, 4th: In sports it is surrounding in as much mystery and debate to this day as the JFK assination, 5th Great play period
@34LOLWTF yeah, real football, played with real feet and real balls, not hands and eggs, the most popular sport around the real world, not just watched but played In Europe, Asia, Africa and the Real America, not the British colony. Your hand-egg is so boring, the action stops every single minute for everything, I guess that's great for tv commercials and eating hot dogs.
@DrVincentCathy The territories discovered and explored by Columbus AND Americo Vespucio, also known as Central and South America. It's just a joke. But I still wonder why this play is regarded so high, the last guy did a great job catching a crazy rebound, running and scoring but the other guy did nothing.
@fsacriste The problem I have with soccer, in the few times I watched it, is that it's like nothing ever happens. It's like the ball is just kicked to one side, and no matter how much a team tries it's then kicked back to the other, and this goes on and on and it gets boring. Once in awhile there's a shot attempt(usually blocked) and then it's back to over the center line, back again, the same thing over and over....see what I sort of mean? That's why the final scores are like 1-0 all the time
@rickyjpeter111 good comment, I cou7ld say by instance that the game never stops and you have 11 people in the same side of the field trying to stop you, but better try to see the next real madrid - barcelona game, the last one was 1-3, to be fair that means about 7-21 in inflated american football scoring, googling I found Eagles - Cowboys 20-7, 49ers - Seahawks 19-17, etc. But maybe we should start counting "minor scorings" too, good idea.
@fsacriste You say this sport is boring but yet you are here. Why? The way you see this sport as boring, is the way I and many other americans see your sport soccer/football as boring. But yet I have no desire at all to find some soccer/football videos and trash it, as you have this one.
@91gt306 You're half right. I'm not interested in american football at all. I arrived here following a link in an article about a totally different thing, not even sports, watched the video and out of plain curiosity made myself that question, no answer, so I asked here. And still nobody can explain why this is one of the best plays in the history of this sport. By the way, I love basketball too, and you can see lots of plays better than this every week.
@fsacriste the reason why is is because the side angle was all anyone say up until just a few years ago. the dispute was was that if the offensive guy touched the ball first the play is null. it was a major controversy for a long time considering,sorry cowboys fans these were the best two teams in the nfl and played each other alot back then,but as we see the raiders touched it first so suck on that raiders fans
@fsacriste Fair enough. But fans of this sport who not only watch it but play it know how hard it is to pull some of this stuff off. Watching it on tv doesnt do it justice, to people who have no interest in this sport this looks easy, when in fact it isnt. All sports have their great moments.
That was Jimmy Warren.From what I see, it looks like Tatum ran into Faqua (which was prob. pass interference to begin with), and the ball hit Faqua's hands just as Tatum rammed into him, which caused the ball to deflect off of Tatum in a harsh fashion. I think both players touched the ball, which makes it legal. Even if it only bounced off Tatum, it's still legal. The ball would NEVER deflect that far and at that angle if it only bounced of Faqua given the speed/direction he was moving.
I think it does hit Tatum and i don't think he traps the ball either. It gets lost behind the goalpost but if you look at the way his hands close on the ball and how far down he leans he's got it off the ground. Crazy play
Fuqua ran in front of Tatum with his hands out so the ball could have easily have hit him I think it did. Also I think Franco trapped it when he caught it.
Tatum clearly touches the ball 1st. Replay would have upheld this play. Tough way to lose a game. I think I may have been sitting on Dad's lap watching this game. I was only 3 at the time, LOL.
@kisscactus You're not the only one. When they put Sabol in the HOF, I went back and watched some NFL Films. They are cheesy and dated. And I've always prefered the original telecasts.
In fact, look how far Fuqua bounced upfield when Tatum hit him! You know, if the Assassin would have focused on breaking up the pass instead of knocking Frenchy Fuqua on his ass, the Immaculate Reception would never have happened.
The ball HAD to have hit Tatum first. Look how far it bounced upfield. 26 ft., 8 2/3 yds. according to Wiki. Tatum was charging upfield like a freight train to take out Fuqua, who was running cross field. Bradshaw unloaded it at the Steelers' 29 yard line. It bounced off Tatum at the Raiders' 35 yard line and was scooped up by Harris behind their 40. Bradshaw could NOT throw the ball 35 yards with such force that it could bounce back without assistance from Tatum who was running upfield.
hahaha steelergold defitnley a mongoloid! how old are you a 12 year old kid, who plays with his dick when he gets nervous ahahaha fuck fallback brah take some ANGERMANAGEMENT pills and give your computer back to your mom before you hurt yourself. HAHAHAHAHAH your a fucking joke.
EDGonzo55 ESPN aired a never before seen angle of Franco's catch. It CLEARLY showed he caught the ball a full 2 inches from the ground. CLEARLY showed it. Oh wait, i know, ESPN Doctored the film, right? LOL
You could always call the Home Office of ESPN & ask if its true---GAME-SET-MATCH
EDGonzo55 I see you have the Brain of a Sub Primate. You say Franco admitted otherwise? Well then, LINK please. I said LINK!! Fail to produce a LINK where Franco said this, you are indeed a JEALOUS fruck. Once again, produce a LINK showing Franco said this, as i assure you, he didnt. LMFAO at you, Monkey Boy LOL
GONZO- I see my Personal Monkey utilized all of his 20 Word Vocabulary to Knuckle his latest ILLITERATE response. Course this Monkey has No Clue hes up against someone that is light years ahead of him Intellectually. Seriously though, he may just be the Dumbest Brain dead Chimp his MASTER has taken on in quite some time. Poor Monkey. LOL. I have to admit however, i do thoroughly enjoy EMBARRASSING & HUMILIATING this Low Life Parasite for ALL to see. Lets just say, Gonzo is Completely Gonzo. LOL
EDGonzo And now to Bitch Slap my Personal Monkey Gonorrhea Gonzo, even further. Why don’t you climb onto that Special Needs tricycle of yours with the fourth wheel attached for extra-ensured retard stability and pedal your fat ass down to the sports field and do some “outdoors” stuff for a change. Hell, if you don’t like it, you can always offer to lick-clean the jockstraps. LMFAO at you! There's nothing wrong with you that couldn't be cured with a little Prozac and a polo mallet-Please Respond
@EDGonzo55 How is this even a debate!? Are you blind!!!!!???? It's an obvious catch just look at the replay!!! Where in that replay did the ball even touch the ground? Some people.....
I've had pelople want to discuss this very same topic; that the ball hit the ground. There's a far greater chance there was a guy behind the grassy knoll !!
@Cjndub21 You don't get it.. the debate wasn't whether it touched the ground, it was whether the ball touched the steelers player first or the raiders player.
@Cjndub21 Its not about if the ball touched the floor,the question is if Fuqua was the only one who the ball touched,if so then it is an ilegal reception by harris.
@Cjndub21 In no replay could you really tell if it hit the ground or not..but I think he caught it...but I do think the ball hit Fuqua first, therefor, no touchdown.
back then if a pass was TOUCHED by a defensive player it was alrdy considered a dead ball unless that player caught it. the rule escaped the play book right then
@jahhz91 Correct, it was replayed during halftime of the AFC Championship game that took place during the 1997 season.
Note use of the word "replayed" in conjunction with the word "during" and now pair those two words with the phrase "halftime of the AFC Championship game for the 1997 season" This can also be rewritten as: Replayed during halftime of the 1997 AFC Championship game.
@jahhz91 You idiot... it's not saying this game took place during the 1997 season, it's saying that this is the replay of the 1972 game that they AIRED during the 1997 AFC Championship game.
"The wording from the 1972 NFL rule book that allowed Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" touchdown to stand: "If a defensive player touches pass first, or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one eligible offensive player, then all offensive players become and remain eligible." Tatum contacted the football simultaneously with Fuqua. Sorry, haters, but you're wrong. Steelers win it cleanly.
@cincyblows Sorry haters steelers got raped against miami the next week so who gives a fuck if it is or is not a catch. In the end you couldnt cheat fate.
Curt Gowdy had to handle the replay since Al DeRogatis was already in the Oakland locker room, awaiting the chance to do post-game interviews.
Nevertheless, Mr. DeRogatis raced to the Pittsburgh locker room.
BTW, Curt Gowdy was the greatest play-by-play sportscaster who ever lived, and so versatile that he could call just about any sport, and do a first-rate job.
@AarcanoCOD might have been 12 Raiders on the field, but helmet to helmet was a way of life, back then. No blood, no foul was the rule of that era. The most important question, rules-wise, was who did the ball deflect off of. Back then, an offensive player couldn't catch a 'rebound' directly from another offensive player. The question has always been, did Tatum (Raiders) deflect the ball, or did it bounce off Fuqua (Steelers).
hammermjh Hey Monkey Boy, heres some advice for you--If the Steelers always pay off the Refs as you say, you Profound JEALOUS Fruck, I suggest you STOP watching NFL games, & go to Bad Mitten instead. I mean since they are paying them off, whats the sense, right. ROTFLMFAO!
If the late jack tatum had not been playing for the "kill shot" the "immaculate reception" would not occurred. And with that disclaimer On the 20th anniversary of the play I saw Fuaqua on KDKA say the ball hit his hand while his hand was on Tatum's shoulder pad
There should never have been any controversy to begin with hahaha what a STUPID rule...if the ball is still in the air and theres an elgible receiver there to catch it then why should it matter which team touched it first?
it hit Frenchy's left arm (as he was catching it) and tatum hit him in that instant, causing the ball to shoot to Harris.
44 second mark, if you stop it, you can clearly see the ball hitting Frenchy first. play should have been called dead at that moment. the rule back then was you cannot advance the ball if another player touched it first.
as much respect as i have the the 70's Steelers, they weren't above cheap-shotting oppenents back in the day themselves...i always believed the NFL turned a blnd eye to the Steelers dirtiness becuase Art Rooney was more well liked than Al Davis
@d820m Bullshit. The raiders were the dirtiest team in the league, and Al Davis was a dirty bastard who wasn't above breaking the rules whenever he could get away with it. Steelers won it fair and square, so how about you shut the fuck up with your crybaby bullshit?
@cincyblows i never said the steelers didn't deserve to win that game...i'm just saying that Pittsburgh could be just as dirty as the Raiders...Oakland didn't always have the market covered on cheap shots back then...(Mike Curtis, Conrad Dobler, and others)
@d820m Whenever the Steelers and Raiders played, the intensity of the game was unparalleled. The Raiders were known for cheapshotting, and the Steelers didn't hesitate to strike back. You make good points, though. I take back the insults in my earlier response to you.
Look, idc how much you slow down the frames or whatever, but just thinking about this from a physics perspective it does not make any sense that the ball would bounce that far off of the Steeler's players shoulder for it to be caught 24 feet back.. He is running WITH the ball and falling at the same time his stance is anything but sturdy, for the ball to change direction so rapidly with so much force it had to have been hit by the Raiders player who was moving in the opposite direction
@putyourweedup The rule at the time (changed in '78) was that an offensive player could not catch a ball deflected by another offensive player. You can see that it "clearly" deflects off Frenchy Fuqua before being caught by Harris. Therefore, illegal.
Remember back in the old days an offensive player couldn't catch a deflection off an offensive player. So if Frenchie Fuqua the guy who got decked by Tatam touched that ball instead of Tatam then that play would not have counted.
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap What you don't understand is, if the ball bounced only off Fuquay without touching Tatum, then the reception by Franco Harris was not a legal reception. If it touched both player or just Tatum, then it's legal. The controversy is because the cameras weren't good enough to be 100% certain.
@thrillamne Steelers outplayed them (slightly) in that game, slow footed Kenny Stabler ran the ball for 30 yards while the CBs were in man coverage and couldn't hear the players screaming for them to tackle Stabler. Their backs were to him as they covered their receivers thinking Stabler was still in the pocket, it was comical. Raiders '76 Playoff run was the luckiest BS I've ever seen. The bad roughing the passer call against NE. Followed by the Steelers losing both Harris and Bleier next game.
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap because you fool if the ball touches the steeler reciever which it looks like it did then it doesnt matter if franco harris caught it the play is illegal.
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap The Raiders objected because at the time there was a rule stating two players on offense could not touch the ball unless a defender touched it in between (it caused controversy in Superbowl V on a John Unitas touchdown to Tom Mackey) - the Raiders insist to this day Tatum never touched the ball, even though the fact of the ball deflecting perfectly backwards TOWARD Harris shows the play was legal.
you don't understand profootball rules as they were in 1972 which are very different from today. if the ball hit only fuqua it would have been incomplete. if it hit both players or only tatum then its still live under 1972 rules
WooP
SinIsWack101 18 hours ago
"I thought running 35 yards for a touchdown against that Steeler defense was a miracle so I guess they deserved one too."
Kenny Stabler
WatchVenusSpa 1 day ago
look st the discription it says he did this in 1997 lol
mrfootballman101 1 day ago
I can't believe there are idiots who still say it hit the ground. This is proof!
MrJtr1888 1 day ago
Larry Seiple
SCE2AUX 2 days ago
I don't even care about this play they lost to the Dolphins in the Championship anyway lol
Invader010 1 week ago
@Invader010 And people say the undefeated Dolphins that season had an easy schedule but forget they got to the AFC title game with a backup, broken down Earl Morrall at quarterback and had to play that game IN Pittsburgh! There was no home field advantage based on record then. It changed the next season.
vccstudents 3 days ago
Back in the days when you could kill players on field.Aww those where the days
LoneWanderer102 1 week ago 3
I'm so freaked out at that camera man. We always have to see the play from two angles to get it all
Baesjegutten 2 weeks ago
They meant to do that
COOLSTORYHAN5EL 2 weeks ago
When I was in safe one of my teachers that played football with us threw a deep pass to me when i was getting covered by my older brother ,I caught it and juked out somebody for a touchdown and my teacher said it was another immaculate reception.
MrGopackgo11 3 weeks ago
If you jump out stands like that now your ass gets tazed
yankeesrule965 3 weeks ago 3
It hit the ground.
TheLordHighXcutioner 3 weeks ago
@TheLordHighXcutioner raiders fan.
AgirlnamedBritta 3 weeks ago
Joe Buck: "Bradshaw, under pressure, stays on his feet, it's incomplete, no, it's caught by Harris, still going and now in for the touchdown, no flags. Let's go down to the field with Pam Oliver"
DPA1288 3 weeks ago 6
This play was not a farce, instead it was one of destiny. The chances of that happening were a billion to one and yet it did. Had Tatum played the ball, had fuqua not been where he was, had harris been a step behind where he was it would've been a different story and the Steelers may not have had the confidence in the future to reach the heights they did. The history books are written, now there's nothing left to do other than reminicse/cry(lol raiders).
ARunawayTrain 3 weeks ago
My personal thoughts : If the Raiders had won this game, they would have had no problems with the Dolphins the following week. And even fewer problems with the Redskins.
SirReal1958 4 weeks ago
If Raiders safety Jack Tatum had played the ball instead of going for the big knock-out hit on Steelers Frenchy Fuqua, the "immaculate reception" would probably have never happened.
FlowingFountain 1 month ago
@FlowingFountain But he didn't, and it did
deinmich 4 weeks ago
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FlowingFountain 1 month ago
I just saw this on television. That was a freakin' miracle!!
MissDee0509 1 month ago 2
That was like fuckin divine intervention
Dumpster3211 1 month ago
Do fans even jump out of the stands after a good win anymore?
MasterJaceBeats 1 month ago
@MasterJaceBeats no. now it gets you arrested in most cities.
Taz86 1 month ago
Steelers Fans- This game goes in lore. The Steelers' first playoff win ever (at the time) and transformed them from losers into winners.
Raiders Fans- Game was a farce, shouldn't have counted and Pittsburgh got lucky.
Neither side will be convinced of the other. Let's just leave it at that.
EdmacZ 1 month ago
Yes you are right it was a divisional payoff game... Miami went on to play Washington for the Superbowl and the undefeated season. I agree Jake Tatum was an assassin as he name suggested and always tried to kill his opponents with crazy hard hits. He actually paralyzed a Patriots player some years later. You are right if he just went for the ball rather than try to wipe out Frenchy things might have been much different that day, however I'm glad they weren't.. Have a happy holiday!
tonto1234566 1 month ago
yes, was a divisional, the afccg was against the dolphins
foreignsteel 1 month ago
tonto -- actually it was in the divisional round of the playoffs and was the first time the Steelers won any post-season game in 40 years. The AFC championship game was the next week with the Dolphins edging the Steelers 21-17, to remain undefeated. Then Miami won the SB to complete the only undefeated season in modern NFL history.
I have to laugh at Jack Tatum. He might have intercepted had he simply gone for the ball but he couldn't resist giving Fuqua a whack instead.
theoldgaloot 1 month ago
@theoldgaloot I dont think he could have picked it, but he certainly did his job of breaking up the play, it was just bad luck for him that the ball made that crazy deflection.
rickyjpeter111 1 month ago
Hard to believe it was 39 years ago... Seems like only a few.
johannas58 1 month ago
39 years ago
skittlecrazy52 1 month ago
Michael Kim sent me here lol : )
mrseaweed1000 1 month ago
91gt - It occured with seconds on the clock in the 4th quarter of the AFC Championship while the Steeler were down to Oakland, 2nd: it was in serious jeapordy of being called illegal because of the NFL rules in 1972, 3rd: some say it was the defining moment of the 1970's Steelers that truned the tides on a franchise that had not seen any type of success since it inception, 4th: In sports it is surrounding in as much mystery and debate to this day as the JFK assination, 5th Great play period
tonto1234566 1 month ago
Still gives me chills, love the black and gold!!
DanielleMarie23 1 month ago
39 years ago today!!
tonto1234566 1 month ago
39 years!!
eduagaba 1 month ago
its 1979
superjoe324 1 month ago
What's the big deal? You can see plays like this in real football ("soccer") all the time but they did it on purpose, not just a lucky rebound.
fsacriste 1 month ago
@fsacriste real football? Its called that in another language and its spelled futbol, which is nothing compared to good american football
34LOLWTF 1 month ago
@34LOLWTF yeah, real football, played with real feet and real balls, not hands and eggs, the most popular sport around the real world, not just watched but played In Europe, Asia, Africa and the Real America, not the British colony. Your hand-egg is so boring, the action stops every single minute for everything, I guess that's great for tv commercials and eating hot dogs.
fsacriste 1 month ago
@fsacriste What is the real America?
DrVincentCathy 1 month ago
@DrVincentCathy The territories discovered and explored by Columbus AND Americo Vespucio, also known as Central and South America. It's just a joke. But I still wonder why this play is regarded so high, the last guy did a great job catching a crazy rebound, running and scoring but the other guy did nothing.
fsacriste 1 month ago
@fsacriste The problem I have with soccer, in the few times I watched it, is that it's like nothing ever happens. It's like the ball is just kicked to one side, and no matter how much a team tries it's then kicked back to the other, and this goes on and on and it gets boring. Once in awhile there's a shot attempt(usually blocked) and then it's back to over the center line, back again, the same thing over and over....see what I sort of mean? That's why the final scores are like 1-0 all the time
rickyjpeter111 1 month ago
@rickyjpeter111 good comment, I cou7ld say by instance that the game never stops and you have 11 people in the same side of the field trying to stop you, but better try to see the next real madrid - barcelona game, the last one was 1-3, to be fair that means about 7-21 in inflated american football scoring, googling I found Eagles - Cowboys 20-7, 49ers - Seahawks 19-17, etc. But maybe we should start counting "minor scorings" too, good idea.
fsacriste 1 month ago
@fsacriste You say this sport is boring but yet you are here. Why? The way you see this sport as boring, is the way I and many other americans see your sport soccer/football as boring. But yet I have no desire at all to find some soccer/football videos and trash it, as you have this one.
91gt306 1 month ago
@91gt306 You're half right. I'm not interested in american football at all. I arrived here following a link in an article about a totally different thing, not even sports, watched the video and out of plain curiosity made myself that question, no answer, so I asked here. And still nobody can explain why this is one of the best plays in the history of this sport. By the way, I love basketball too, and you can see lots of plays better than this every week.
fsacriste 1 month ago
@fsacriste the reason why is is because the side angle was all anyone say up until just a few years ago. the dispute was was that if the offensive guy touched the ball first the play is null. it was a major controversy for a long time considering,sorry cowboys fans these were the best two teams in the nfl and played each other alot back then,but as we see the raiders touched it first so suck on that raiders fans
Fade2Orion 1 month ago
@fsacriste Fair enough. But fans of this sport who not only watch it but play it know how hard it is to pull some of this stuff off. Watching it on tv doesnt do it justice, to people who have no interest in this sport this looks easy, when in fact it isnt. All sports have their great moments.
91gt306 1 month ago
I've never liked the Steelers, but I've always thought this was awesome.
PrimetimeD 1 month ago
Who was the raider that missed the tackle on about the 5 yard line, in front of tatum?
4736dmr 1 month ago
Comment removed
rickyjpeter111 1 month ago
That was Jimmy Warren.From what I see, it looks like Tatum ran into Faqua (which was prob. pass interference to begin with), and the ball hit Faqua's hands just as Tatum rammed into him, which caused the ball to deflect off of Tatum in a harsh fashion. I think both players touched the ball, which makes it legal. Even if it only bounced off Tatum, it's still legal. The ball would NEVER deflect that far and at that angle if it only bounced of Faqua given the speed/direction he was moving.
rickyjpeter111 1 month ago
Comment removed
rickyjpeter111 1 month ago
Did you notice that there were NO Terrible Towels? Funny to see(or not see) during a Steeler victory. GO STEELERS!!!!!
arkansoul 1 month ago
Franco Harris and the Steelers ROCK!
TheTerminator1202 1 month ago
That's just damn good football.
prettyboy1970 1 month ago
It's funny how the announcer says "Picked Off!"
endofthedial 1 month ago 11
@endofthedial
noo he says "Picked Upp"
mauiskim23 1 month ago
34 dislikes . sorry raiders
bangsnaps1 1 month ago
Wow, astounding!
masterjoseph8 1 month ago
Beauty...I may be only 16, but I've been a Steelers fan for three years...and Franco is my favourite player.
KingofDrums19 2 months ago
Franco ran the 40 in 4.4 seconds. Really! Time it for yourself.
groofoot 2 months ago
@groofoot Great observation!!! He sure did...
arkansoul 1 month ago
Lol, fucking Bradshaw would throw such a horrendous pass, and still have it somehow become a touchdown.
cavaliersfan124 2 months ago
I think it does hit Tatum and i don't think he traps the ball either. It gets lost behind the goalpost but if you look at the way his hands close on the ball and how far down he leans he's got it off the ground. Crazy play
liamcd123 2 months ago
Fuqua ran in front of Tatum with his hands out so the ball could have easily have hit him I think it did. Also I think Franco trapped it when he caught it.
stonekold10x 2 months ago
No shit the ball hit tatum but the real debate should be if the Harris actually caught that ball.
Rjjr510 2 months ago
Tatum clearly touches the ball 1st. Replay would have upheld this play. Tough way to lose a game. I think I may have been sitting on Dad's lap watching this game. I was only 3 at the time, LOL.
blakkjack21 2 months ago
Jack tatum cracked that fool hard!
zazakazam 2 months ago
@zazakazam And if would have played the ball, they would have won the game. Instead, the fool went on to play the next week while Tatum went home
bwashinski 2 months ago
Thanks for showing the original footage. NFL films sucks!
kisscactus 3 months ago
@kisscactus You're not the only one. When they put Sabol in the HOF, I went back and watched some NFL Films. They are cheesy and dated. And I've always prefered the original telecasts.
jojopuppyfish 3 months ago
Crazy play.
Weissmenchland 3 months ago
What if Gus Johnson called this game?
DPA1288 3 months ago 32
@DPA1288 Gus probably would have spontaneously combusted on the air. :-)
HowardLive 3 months ago
0:43 clearly hits Tatum first, right in the chest.
arodaman 3 months ago
Still debating this after 40 years....wow.
optimusprime2008 3 months ago
@optimusprime2008 What is there to debate.........
SmashBrosFan19 3 months ago
In fact, look how far Fuqua bounced upfield when Tatum hit him! You know, if the Assassin would have focused on breaking up the pass instead of knocking Frenchy Fuqua on his ass, the Immaculate Reception would never have happened.
Badseed131313 3 months ago
The ball HAD to have hit Tatum first. Look how far it bounced upfield. 26 ft., 8 2/3 yds. according to Wiki. Tatum was charging upfield like a freight train to take out Fuqua, who was running cross field. Bradshaw unloaded it at the Steelers' 29 yard line. It bounced off Tatum at the Raiders' 35 yard line and was scooped up by Harris behind their 40. Bradshaw could NOT throw the ball 35 yards with such force that it could bounce back without assistance from Tatum who was running upfield.
Badseed131313 3 months ago
Wow. The broadcast booth at the end was impressive for 1972.
hcox 3 months ago
hahaha steelergold defitnley a mongoloid! how old are you a 12 year old kid, who plays with his dick when he gets nervous ahahaha fuck fallback brah take some ANGERMANAGEMENT pills and give your computer back to your mom before you hurt yourself. HAHAHAHAHAH your a fucking joke.
EDGonzo55 3 months ago
If u freeze it at 0:08 the ball hit the raider players shoulder so it is a catch.
TheNewChevyRoll48 3 months ago
also at 0:43
TheNewChevyRoll48 3 months ago
nobody likes THE STEELERS THERE JUST SO GAY
nizzonator52 3 months ago
it hit tatum in the chest, but franco didnt catch it and he knows and the rooney family knows as well that it wasnt a catch.
EDGonzo55 3 months ago
EDGonzo55 ESPN aired a never before seen angle of Franco's catch. It CLEARLY showed he caught the ball a full 2 inches from the ground. CLEARLY showed it. Oh wait, i know, ESPN Doctored the film, right? LOL
You could always call the Home Office of ESPN & ask if its true---GAME-SET-MATCH
SteelerGold1 3 months ago
@SteelerGold1 franco basically admitted he didnt catch it, haha dont lie man franco didnt catch shit.
EDGonzo55 3 months ago
EDGonzo55 I see you have the Brain of a Sub Primate. You say Franco admitted otherwise? Well then, LINK please. I said LINK!! Fail to produce a LINK where Franco said this, you are indeed a JEALOUS fruck. Once again, produce a LINK showing Franco said this, as i assure you, he didnt. LMFAO at you, Monkey Boy LOL
Feel free to HUMILIATE yourself for ALL to see.
SteelerGold1 3 months ago
@SteelerGold1 haha do you punch your keyboard bcs i can tell your getting mad hahaha you know what they say SHORT TEMPER = SHRIMP DICK hahaa
EDGonzo55 3 months ago
GONZO- I see my Personal Monkey utilized all of his 20 Word Vocabulary to Knuckle his latest ILLITERATE response. Course this Monkey has No Clue hes up against someone that is light years ahead of him Intellectually. Seriously though, he may just be the Dumbest Brain dead Chimp his MASTER has taken on in quite some time. Poor Monkey. LOL. I have to admit however, i do thoroughly enjoy EMBARRASSING & HUMILIATING this Low Life Parasite for ALL to see. Lets just say, Gonzo is Completely Gonzo. LOL
SteelerGold1 3 months ago
EDGonzo And now to Bitch Slap my Personal Monkey Gonorrhea Gonzo, even further. Why don’t you climb onto that Special Needs tricycle of yours with the fourth wheel attached for extra-ensured retard stability and pedal your fat ass down to the sports field and do some “outdoors” stuff for a change. Hell, if you don’t like it, you can always offer to lick-clean the jockstraps. LMFAO at you! There's nothing wrong with you that couldn't be cured with a little Prozac and a polo mallet-Please Respond
SteelerGold1 3 months ago
EDGonzo55 One more thing GONZO BONZO, where is the LINK i requested showing Franco said what you stated???? Why no LINK???? LMFAO AT YOU! PUSSY*
SteelerGold1 3 months ago
@EDGonzo55 How is this even a debate!? Are you blind!!!!!???? It's an obvious catch just look at the replay!!! Where in that replay did the ball even touch the ground? Some people.....
Cjndub21 3 months ago
@Cjndub21 haha dude i really dont care about 72, but 01 was bullshit no doubt about that.
EDGonzo55 3 months ago
Comment removed
6400az 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Cjndub21
I've had pelople want to discuss this very same topic; that the ball hit the ground. There's a far greater chance there was a guy behind the grassy knoll !!
6400az 3 months ago
@Cjndub21 You don't get it.. the debate wasn't whether it touched the ground, it was whether the ball touched the steelers player first or the raiders player.
localazn208 3 months ago
@Cjndub21 The debate wasnt if the ball touched the ground, it was if the ball hit tatum or fuqua first....
jbrandon1990 3 months ago
@Cjndub21 Its not about if the ball touched the floor,the question is if Fuqua was the only one who the ball touched,if so then it is an ilegal reception by harris.
MrELITEGamerHD 3 months ago
@Cjndub21 In no replay could you really tell if it hit the ground or not..but I think he caught it...but I do think the ball hit Fuqua first, therefor, no touchdown.
KanapkaDrobakha 3 months ago
It hit Tatum in the chest
billyballs68 4 months ago
back then if a pass was TOUCHED by a defensive player it was alrdy considered a dead ball unless that player caught it. the rule escaped the play book right then
HaloGearsSolid 4 months ago
Replayed during"halftime of the "AFC Championship game for the 1997 season."
you all are fucked go to school
jahhz91 4 months ago
@jahhz91 Correct, it was replayed during halftime of the AFC Championship game that took place during the 1997 season.
Note use of the word "replayed" in conjunction with the word "during" and now pair those two words with the phrase "halftime of the AFC Championship game for the 1997 season" This can also be rewritten as: Replayed during halftime of the 1997 AFC Championship game.
You're completely uneducated. Congratulations!
TheCiscoKid17 3 months ago
Damn the Raiders must of been scary........ Glad the rules stopped those hard hits, someone could of died from that...
TheKassicRock 4 months ago
yeah 1997. great year for bradshaw. dumbass
jahhz91 4 months ago
@jahhz91
Read it again dumbass.
TheKenTerry 4 months ago
@jahhz91 You idiot... it's not saying this game took place during the 1997 season, it's saying that this is the replay of the 1972 game that they AIRED during the 1997 AFC Championship game.
TheCiscoKid17 4 months ago
@TheCiscoKid17
@TheKenTerry
Replayed during halftime of the AFC Championship game for "the 1997 season."
You are faaacked!
jahhz91 4 months ago
looks like a clean catch to me,plus i would be pissed off if my superbowl dreams was ended like that lol.
eltonlaborde 4 months ago
If only Football was still the way it was in that time..Its still fun to watch these days.. But theres so many B.S rules
Duvalll21 4 months ago
The Rule
"The wording from the 1972 NFL rule book that allowed Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" touchdown to stand: "If a defensive player touches pass first, or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one eligible offensive player, then all offensive players become and remain eligible." Tatum contacted the football simultaneously with Fuqua. Sorry, haters, but you're wrong. Steelers win it cleanly.
cincyblows 4 months ago
@cincyblows Sorry haters steelers got raped against miami the next week so who gives a fuck if it is or is not a catch. In the end you couldnt cheat fate.
tnt181 4 months ago
@tnt181 On the contrary. Fate led to six Super Bowl championships. I certainly won't complain.
cincyblows 4 months ago 6
That's a nice catch!
benwhyme 5 months ago
Madden...u mad?
Bable012 5 months ago
guy talking on a cell phone at 0:55
jose123001 5 months ago
Curt Gowdy had to handle the replay since Al DeRogatis was already in the Oakland locker room, awaiting the chance to do post-game interviews.
Nevertheless, Mr. DeRogatis raced to the Pittsburgh locker room.
BTW, Curt Gowdy was the greatest play-by-play sportscaster who ever lived, and so versatile that he could call just about any sport, and do a first-rate job.
And this was one of his five greatest calls.
altfactor 5 months ago
haha the raiders fucking suck
DestructiveDru 5 months ago
@DestructiveDru fuck you
MrJacobro 3 months ago
no it was skill
87coolwhip 5 months ago
Two missed penalties:
12 raiders on the field
Helmet to helmet to the Jack Tatum (Defender lowered helmet to make the hit)
AarcanoCOD 5 months ago
@AarcanoCOD might have been 12 Raiders on the field, but helmet to helmet was a way of life, back then. No blood, no foul was the rule of that era. The most important question, rules-wise, was who did the ball deflect off of. Back then, an offensive player couldn't catch a 'rebound' directly from another offensive player. The question has always been, did Tatum (Raiders) deflect the ball, or did it bounce off Fuqua (Steelers).
earthshine2k 5 months ago
Fuck you raiders fans, Pittsburgh won the game. We don't need to pay the refs, we are just that good.
Kernithan 5 months ago
Franco Harris must tell this story everyday. I sure would. Mannnnn...
MrTocksick 5 months ago
steelers always pull the bull shit
ad80davis 5 months ago
at 0:08 it looks like it hit the raider
TheOscar401 5 months ago
they could cheat against the raiders but couldn't cheat perfection the next week.
tnt181 5 months ago
@tnt181 Cheat? It was a lucky miracle, but not "cheating." Get a fucking clue.
steel5w 5 months ago
@tnt181 How did they cheat? You mean by catching a live ball and turning it into a touchdown?
cincyblows 4 months ago
I had always heard about the controversy of who touched the ball first. From this angle it's pretty evident that the defender did!!
seandunx 5 months ago
good lord, all you raiders fans need to SHUT-UP!!! its been decades ago, plus you guys should be used to losing by now. XD
SuperCrapper12 5 months ago
0:45
Premature Celebration Gone Wrong
ThePeteDrennan 5 months ago
@ThePeteDrennan Yeap... if #80 does his job, he makes that tackle.
SeaEagleAdmin 3 months ago
Same ref in this game also called pass interferance on Benny Barnes in sb 13. Steelers has always paid off the refs.
hammermjh 5 months ago
hammermjh Hey Monkey Boy, heres some advice for you--If the Steelers always pay off the Refs as you say, you Profound JEALOUS Fruck, I suggest you STOP watching NFL games, & go to Bad Mitten instead. I mean since they are paying them off, whats the sense, right. ROTFLMFAO!
SteelerGold1 3 months ago
For fuck's sake Oakland fans, GET OVER IT!!!!!!! And no, I'm not a Pittsburgh fan either.
eclectica1 5 months ago
If the late jack tatum had not been playing for the "kill shot" the "immaculate reception" would not occurred. And with that disclaimer On the 20th anniversary of the play I saw Fuaqua on KDKA say the ball hit his hand while his hand was on Tatum's shoulder pad
rankinnwc 5 months ago
If the wrong call was made...I chalk it up to sometimes the wrong call is the right call...i.e. team's seasons not ending because of idiotic rules.
If all you Raiders fans disagree...then I have two words for you: Tuck Rule...another situation where the "wrong call" should have been made.
RobertBalto 5 months ago
There should never have been any controversy to begin with hahaha what a STUPID rule...if the ball is still in the air and theres an elgible receiver there to catch it then why should it matter which team touched it first?
RobertBalto 5 months ago
it hit Frenchy's left arm (as he was catching it) and tatum hit him in that instant, causing the ball to shoot to Harris.
44 second mark, if you stop it, you can clearly see the ball hitting Frenchy first. play should have been called dead at that moment. the rule back then was you cannot advance the ball if another player touched it first.
You got away with that one, steeler fans.
Holinyx 5 months ago
It clearly touches Jack Tatum in the arms at some point.
brianblakwood 5 months ago
that was a beauty by bradshaw too
LBC6893 5 months ago
as much respect as i have the the 70's Steelers, they weren't above cheap-shotting oppenents back in the day themselves...i always believed the NFL turned a blnd eye to the Steelers dirtiness becuase Art Rooney was more well liked than Al Davis
d820m 5 months ago
@d820m Bullshit. The raiders were the dirtiest team in the league, and Al Davis was a dirty bastard who wasn't above breaking the rules whenever he could get away with it. Steelers won it fair and square, so how about you shut the fuck up with your crybaby bullshit?
cincyblows 4 months ago
@cincyblows i never said the steelers didn't deserve to win that game...i'm just saying that Pittsburgh could be just as dirty as the Raiders...Oakland didn't always have the market covered on cheap shots back then...(Mike Curtis, Conrad Dobler, and others)
d820m 4 months ago
@d820m Whenever the Steelers and Raiders played, the intensity of the game was unparalleled. The Raiders were known for cheapshotting, and the Steelers didn't hesitate to strike back. You make good points, though. I take back the insults in my earlier response to you.
cincyblows 4 months ago
Look, idc how much you slow down the frames or whatever, but just thinking about this from a physics perspective it does not make any sense that the ball would bounce that far off of the Steeler's players shoulder for it to be caught 24 feet back.. He is running WITH the ball and falling at the same time his stance is anything but sturdy, for the ball to change direction so rapidly with so much force it had to have been hit by the Raiders player who was moving in the opposite direction
walkerctranger 5 months ago
Comment removed
walkerctranger 5 months ago
absolute bullshit no call. they ignore the rules on this play then invent the tuck rule.
22yonkers 6 months ago
@22yonkers Waaa you crybaby
cincyblows 4 months ago
the bigger mystery is at 0:45... every camera angle used in this game doesn't show if the ball touched the ground or not
frynross1 6 months ago
i dont see the problem? where is the controvery in this? its clear that he caught the ball and ran for the td
putyourweedup 6 months ago
@putyourweedup The rule at the time (changed in '78) was that an offensive player could not catch a ball deflected by another offensive player. You can see that it "clearly" deflects off Frenchy Fuqua before being caught by Harris. Therefore, illegal.
mattcarlucci 6 months ago
@mattcarlucci
The rule also said that if the ball was touched first or simultaneously by a defensive player, any offensive player is eligible.
Watchernator 5 months ago
most iconic pass in football history... lucky, yes.... great reaction, yes.
JerichoDitch2 6 months ago
......broken up by Tatum......PICKED OFF! Franco Harris has it!
KennethKaniffFromCT 6 months ago
Remember back in the old days an offensive player couldn't catch a deflection off an offensive player. So if Frenchie Fuqua the guy who got decked by Tatam touched that ball instead of Tatam then that play would not have counted.
redmustang03 6 months ago
stupid announcers the ball wasnt picked off it was caught
neilrtucker11 6 months ago
@neilrtucker11 I think the announcer simply didn't know how to react to the play
KennethKaniffFromCT 6 months ago
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap What you don't understand is, if the ball bounced only off Fuquay without touching Tatum, then the reception by Franco Harris was not a legal reception. If it touched both player or just Tatum, then it's legal. The controversy is because the cameras weren't good enough to be 100% certain.
jont43 6 months ago
The luckiest bullshit i've ever seen in my life.
Raiderss4Life 6 months ago
Tatum ouched that ball, but that rule doesnt paly in effect anymore if it is bounced off offense or defense you can still catch it
thrillamne 7 months ago
@thrillamne Steelers outplayed them (slightly) in that game, slow footed Kenny Stabler ran the ball for 30 yards while the CBs were in man coverage and couldn't hear the players screaming for them to tackle Stabler. Their backs were to him as they covered their receivers thinking Stabler was still in the pocket, it was comical. Raiders '76 Playoff run was the luckiest BS I've ever seen. The bad roughing the passer call against NE. Followed by the Steelers losing both Harris and Bleier next game.
L4CES 6 months ago
@L4CES for Bradshaw & Harris it was just another Sunday
thrillamne 6 months ago
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap because you fool if the ball touches the steeler reciever which it looks like it did then it doesnt matter if franco harris caught it the play is illegal.
jayfey77 7 months ago
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap Its the LUCKIEST play ever. Not the best play ever.
clayhater 7 months ago
lol @ 0:20 - the Refs are already consulting.....
groofoot 7 months ago 7
@groofoot They're probably saying to each other, "Let's be honest. If we call this play back, we are dead before we get out of the building."
jk08PHS 5 months ago
@groofoot What consulting are you talking about? You saw the hands up signal by the ref who was right there and saw the whole thing and called TD.
tjrxk7 3 months ago
Comment removed
ThePayne322 7 months ago
@TylerDurdenMakesSoap The Raiders objected because at the time there was a rule stating two players on offense could not touch the ball unless a defender touched it in between (it caused controversy in Superbowl V on a John Unitas touchdown to Tom Mackey) - the Raiders insist to this day Tatum never touched the ball, even though the fact of the ball deflecting perfectly backwards TOWARD Harris shows the play was legal.
STP43FAN1 7 months ago
you don't understand profootball rules as they were in 1972 which are very different from today. if the ball hit only fuqua it would have been incomplete. if it hit both players or only tatum then its still live under 1972 rules
cicsperf 7 months ago
you don't understand profootball rules as they were in 1972 which are very different from today
cicsperf 7 months ago
that hit frenchy fuqua's arm...
PatrickM7X 7 months ago
Next to the Zapruder film, this is probably the most talked about film.
ebf1957 7 months ago
my pap was in the edzone when franco ran in for the touchdown!!!!!! thats very cool
lupey103 7 months ago