Fullback, Pittsburgh
Steelers
Age: 22
College: Penn
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 230
Prelude:
Following a
college career in which he played in the shadow of HB Lydell Mitchell at Penn
State, Harris was chosen by the Steelers in the first round (13th
overall) of the 1972 NFL draft. It was hoped that he would provide needed depth
at running back and he was also valued for his blocking ability.
1972 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 188
[15]
Most
attempts, game - 21 (for 61 yds.) at Houston 12/10
Yards – 1055 [6]
Most yards,
game – 138 yards (on 15 carries) at Buffalo 10/29
Average gain
– 5.6 [4]
TDs – 10 [3]
100-yard
rushing games – 7
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 21
Most
receptions, game – 4 (for 26 yds.) vs. Cleveland 12/3
Yards – 180
Most yards,
game - 39 (on 2 catches) vs. Cincinnati 11/5
Average gain
– 8.6
TDs – 1
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 8
Yards – 183
Average per
return – 22.9
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 32 yards
Scoring
TDs – 11 [7]
Points – 66
Postseason: 2 G
Rushing
attempts – 34
Most rushing
attempts, game – 18 vs. Oakland, AFC Divisional playoff
Rushing yards
– 140
Most rushing
yards, game - 76 vs. Miami, AFC Championship
Average gain
rushing – 4.1
Rushing TDs –
0
Pass
receptions – 7
Most pass
receptions, game - 5 vs. Oakland, AFC Divisional playoff
Pass
receiving yards - 99
Most pass
receiving yards, game - 96 vs. Oakland, AFC Divisional playoff
Average yards
per reception – 14.1
Pass
Receiving TDs - 1
Awards & Honors:
NFL Rookie of
the Year: NEA
NFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA
AFC Rookie of
the Year: UPI, Sporting News
2nd
team All-NFL: AP, NEA
1st
team All-AFC: Sporting News
2nd
team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Steelers went
11-3 to finish first in the AFC Central while ranking second in the NFL in
rushing yards (2520). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Oakland Raiders (13-7).
Lost AFC Championship to Miami Dolphins (21-17).
Aftermath:
Harris had a
lesser year in 1973 due to nagging injuries, rushing for 698 yards and
averaging almost two yards less per carry than during his rookie season (3.7).
Still, he was again chosen to the Pro Bowl. Harris overcame early injuries in
’74 to rush for 1006 yards and was outstanding in the postseason, in particular
with 158 yards in a MVP performance as the Steelers won the Super Bowl over
Minnesota. It was the first of six straight thousand-yard seasons and eight
overall. He was selected to nine straight Pro Bowls, was a consensus first-team
All-NFL selection once, and received at least some All-NFL or All-AFC
recognition in five other years. Harris played 12 seasons with the Steelers and
finished up in 1984 with a year in Seattle. At the time of his retirement, his
12,120 rushing yards ranked third in NFL history (with 11,950 of that coming
with Pittsburgh, the most in franchise history). His 100 touchdowns ranked
fifth and he added 1556 rushing yards and 17 TDs in playoff games. Harris was
inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1990.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
