The Immaculate Reception: What the Hell Just Happened? | A Football Life

Check out our other channels:
NFL Mundo / mundonfl
NFL Brasil / nflbrasiloficial
NFL UK / @nflukireland
NFL Fantasy Football / nflfantasyfootball
NFL Play Football / playfootball
NFL Rush / nflrush
NFL Throwback / nflvault
NFL Network / nflnetwork
NFL / nfl
#NFL #Football #AmericanFootball

[@cornerroutespecialist792]

RIP Franco man. One of the best backs to ever do it. Happy he’s getting his number retired in a couple days cuz he deserves it!

[@michealjones3297]

Amen

[@doobiedoo5450]

Sure was. Legend. 🙏🏼 And I’m an Eagles fan.

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

O wow ...I didn't know...he was Legend!

[@davidpallin772]

A sports writer wrote, “the play lasted for seventeen seconds, it was witnessed by 50,000 fans, yet no one saw a thing.”

[@mtoboggan2364]

You could not have gotten that quote more wrong

[@Mattthefarmer1]

I was raised in a large Irish Catholic family. For many years, my mother thought his name was Frank O’Harris. Franco was my childhood hero and the Steelers were my team-Harris, Bradshaw, Swann, Stallworth, Bleier, Greene, Greenwood, Hamm, Lambert, Blount. My dad and his parents had moved to California from the Pittsburgh area after WW2 and we were die hard Steelers and Pirates fans. My dad sold peanuts at Forbes Fields as a kid. RIP Franco Harris.

[@ascension2anotherdimension281]

Nfl is rigged

[@giorgiocosentino509]

O'Harris, luck of the Irish!

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

I was 9 years old...we were playing street ball in my front yard...I ducked in real quick for a quick drink of water Dad was in his chair watching the game...I said who's winning? Ahh those damn Raiders...I'd like to see Pittsburgh pull this off....and this was the next play after my Dad said that! Just by chance I witnessed this live...." I'll be damned"

[@bggraham83]

This is crazy. I can't believe it. 72. Feels young today. 50th anniversary just days away. Outside of Roberto Clemente, probably the most beloved Pittsburgh athlete ever.

[@starwarssavage-_-7709]

And Troy

[@stevecareskey6542]

Best right fielder.

[@stevecareskey6542]

Best right fielder eva

[@frederickrapp5396]

72 May feel young, but 72 is not young. 72 is 72, whether you are living in 1972 or 2022.

[@williampalchak7574]

@@frederickrapp5396 bull. I'm in my 60's going on 35.

[@thespanishinquisition2200]

You will always be remembered, not just because of what you did on the field, but because of the man who you were that perfectly embodied the steel city❤

[@jckauffman6004]

Rest in peace Franco, you will never be forgotten in NFL history

[@badasshiker9637]

Back in those days, two offensive players could not touch the ball without a defensive touch in between. That was where the controversy lay, whether Tatum touched the ball before Franco grabbed it. Today, 2 offensive players can touch the ball in a row and it was changed due to this play. Still, a hell of a play.

[@novavon88]

I don't get this. If a legal pass is thrown, the ball is live until it hits the ground, no? It doesn't (or shouldn't) matter how who or how many touch it, it's live until it touches the ground. No? So the question here it seemed to me was, did Harris get the ball before it touched the ground or not, and that event was off camera apparently. That's the best I can make of this very confusing event. I don't know where all this "did two players touch it" or what all comes from. Am I off-base here?

[@LawrenceAugust_]

@@novavon88 As the comment you’re replying to said - the rules were different then. It’s even explained in this video.

[@LawrenceAugust_]

@@novavon88 “After the play, a critical question remained: who did the football touch in the Fuqua/Tatum collision? If it bounced off Fuqua without ever touching Tatum, then Harris's reception was illegal. If the ball bounced off only Tatum, or if it bounced off both Fuqua and Tatum (in any order), then the reception was legal. The rule stated in the pertinent part that if an offensive player touches a pass first, he is the only offensive player eligible to catch the pass. "However, if a [defensive] player touches [the] pass first, or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one [offensive] player, then all [offensive] players become and remain eligible" to catch the pass. (This rule was rescinded in 1978.) If the reception was illegal, the Raiders would have gained possession (by a turnover on downs), clinching a victory.” en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Reception

[@MW-bi1pi]

@@novavon88 The rules in those days stated if the ball was touched by two offensive players without a defensive touch in between, it was an incompletion. It was to eliminate a tip to another receiver to advance the ball.

[@tyrellreid3343]

@@novavon88 did you even watch the damn video?? Sheesh

[@johnlarocco3348]

Ten years old I watched every moment of this game and it's still a mystery with the rules indicating an infraction in passing occurred. Live free or Die 🇺🇸. RIP the great Franco Harris !

[@lastfirst78]

Same here ten years old at the time.

[@jivepatrol6833]

I was watching the game live. Terry Bradshaw threw the ball and it bounced off Jack Tatum and into Franco's hands. It was a hard fought game with great players and coaches on both sides. John Madden was upset but still very professional in his comments. Curt Gowdy called the game. Everything about the NFL was better 50 years ago! RIP Franco.

[@StonesAndSand]

RIP #32...you were a Sunday favorite to generations of young athletes...from the back yard...to the HS gridiron...to Collegiate ball. You inspired millions.

[@kennyhuskisson2684]

Amen🙏🎄☃️

[@rustyshackleford1114]

While there are still some people that question whether or not that ball hit the ground, additional video footage has emerged the past number of years that clearly shows that the ball, in fact, did NOT hit the ground and that it was a legal bang-bang play and that Harris was in the right place at the exact right millisecond of time.

[@MW-bi1pi]

The footage has ALWAYS been available, I saw it on the day the play occurred. The Networks and NFL Films just choose not to show the ONLY angle that captured the full play. Who CARES about a shot so zoomed in one guy fills the whole screen while ignoring the only meaningful perspective. It is akin to deceptive editing it is so poorly done.

[@riverraisin1]

@@MW-bi1pi I remember seeing a replay that showed virtually the whole field, and certainly the whole play, with Franco catching the ball. Watching this made me question my memory.

[@richard40x]

Very few dispute whether Franco caught the ball while it was still in the air. The main dispute is can the ball bounce off of only the first eligible receiver, and still have other receivers eligible to catch it. I think what the refs decided, is it actually bounced off the defensive back as well, not just another receiver, and thus Franco could still catch it.

[@samuraidom6542]

@@richard40x from the angles I saw, it bounced off the Raiders DB’s shoulder pad, never touching the Steelers WR, and Franco managed to catch it just above the ground

[@michaelschaefer1904]

That's more of a catch than the one in the end zone to beat the Cardinals during the Super Bowl decades later. If it's not the SB and/or Brady is on the sideline for the other team, that's not a catch most of the time.

[@rogerledlow4970]

Watched that game that day. Was 12 yrs old. Had no idea what just happened. Wasn’t a Steelers fan but remember I was rooting for them that game. RIP Franco. Grew up watching NFL every Sunday. Never watch any of it anymore.

[@VILJL]

The NFL was strongly opposed to Al Davis and the Raiders during those years. The Al Davis / Pete Rozelle rivalry has helped set up the NFL we know today. The rivalry took place years ago before the NFL was the billion-dollar league people religiously follow. ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary, special called "Al Davis vs the NFL," shed light on this feud.

[@theSTEE7ERS58]

✨️🖤💛🏈We WON fair and square man, i watched it over and over again RIP Franco Harris ❤#32, one of the GREATEST NFL players in the HX of football ✨️🖤💛🏈❤ all my guys played Excellent !!!!

[@yahspoetyahu-thepoeticword7322]

One of THE GREATEST plays in sports history!!! WE LOVE YOU FRANCO!!🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

[@murkrow2316]

In my opinion this is The BEST moment in the History of Sports!!!

[@danielgolus4600]

I was at the game. But didn't see the Immaculate Reception play! My group got up to leave when it was Steelers 3rd Down. 3rd and 10. Looking bleak for Bradshaw and his team. Cold, disgusted, and assuming the Steelers lost, we decided to beat the crowd and go. When we were in the outer corridor, near the exit down-stairs of Three Rivers Stadium, we suddenly heard the THUNDEROUS roar of Steeler fans. Running back to the seating area, we asked "What happened?" - assuming it was good. Even the fans who SAW it couldnt really tell us - they were in shock. They just said "Franco Harris just scored a Touchdown!". I recall there was still 5 seconds on the game clock. And saw Raiders Coach John Madden animated, on the sidelines. I then saw the referee signal a touchdown with his twin upstreached arms, to the roaring approving of the crowd. So we stayed to see the actual end of the game (Raiders had one play, went nowhere. Game Over! Steelers Win!) To this day, football fans marvel when I tell them "I was at that game". But are then surprised when I continue "But I didnt see THE play!"

[@mrunning10]

And YOU call yourself a TRUE fan!

[@lanewood6885]

RIP Franco Harris! One of the Pittsburgh greats.

[@stephenp4285]

R.I.P Franco Harris, a real legend of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was not alive to see that play but I remember hearing about it in the 90's.

[@martoto77]

I don't know how anyone can think that anyone other than Tatum batted that ball back to Harris.

[@Jugglingtedchannel]

Thank you for the memories Franco! You won't be forgotten, and will be admired by every fan of your generation and more.

[@coolkidsbros3041]

May Franco Rest In Peace and my deepest condolences to his family and friends

[@MarloSoBalJr]

Life is so precious but so painful. A day for him to be celebrated now to be a somber memory. Ravens Flock gives their condolences. Legends live forever, no matter what

[@ernestomolina4453]

Because it was a invalid play a clear infraction. Raiders got ripped of karma at its finest 🙌🏽

[@twistedNutzz326]

That play ,The Immaculate, I saw it on TV as it happened. 1972. Fast forward to 1982. Franco's career winding down...but he never did. That was what made Franco so good. He took care of himself. The camera was on him after he made a run and was striding back to the huddle. He gave a stare..."bro it's all a game." RIP FRANCO'S ITALIAN ARMY.

[@markdagostino9666]

May God Rest your soul . Franco, this world not only lost an incredible athlete… this world lost a true gentleman.

[@vincentpadovano7855]

Rumor has it that the Ref asked if he didn't call it a touchdown if he would be guaranteed to get out alive...the person on the other line SAID 'NO'....TOUCHDOWN.

[@markross2124]

I was one of the thousands in attendance and also a member of the fan club Franco's Italian army, RIP Franco and even now the Steelers star running back in also named Harris, perhaps a good omen for salvaging this season.

[@emt5330]

It looks to me like the ball hits Jack Tatum

[@PeterKKraus]

2 days before Christmas , 2 weeks after my 13th birthday, heck yeah I was watching!

[@SpottedSharks]

I love Madden but he's wrong about no official signaling a TD. The side judge running down the sideline trailing Harris signaled TD. It's not in the footage in this video; not sure if Madden had ever seen that footage when he was interviewed in 1986 for this.

[@lorrainewalker8200]

#ForeverFranco32 I was a 11-year-old pre-adolescent black girl who saw this handsome goatee wearing gorgeous stallion who was half Italian half black… Named Franco Harris. Other than the Jackson 5 no other man gave me the tingles or made me shout like this guy, and the fact that he could play that game of football (a sport I had begun to love when I turned 9) just made him even more endearing. This Immaculate Reception somehow signified the renewal of love & joy in our family. We were all rejoicing. I will always be indebted to Franco Harris coming to Pittsburgh. He most definitely will be missed. #Number32ForeverFranco.

[@siriuzbiz]

One of the Greatest Backs in History and my favorite growing up!

[@nrkgalt]

Fuqua was running in the same direction that the ball was traveling. It would not have ricocheted the way it did unless either the ball hit Tatum instead or Tatum knocked Fuqua back into the ball. If it was the latter then Tatum should have been called for pass interference, which a Steelers first down at the spot of the foul. It would have meant no touchdown, but the Steelers would still be alive.

[@omegatiger8321]

Franco Harris always in our hearts, thanks Franco.... :)

[@raytaino4481]

The Only player who touched the Ball was Franco.. It was a Immaculate Reception

[@johnduff3914]

Dan Conners was like, "Say what?!" 03:44

[@fishpants3877]

Madden kept complaining that he wasn't given the name of the person upstairs who made the call. Why? So now he couldn't make that name public and the Raiders fans wouldn't know whose house to burn down?

[@tomb4575]

It was the last play of the game. The important thing to do for a defensive back is to bat the ball down to the ground in the most direct and fastest way. Had Tatum done that, he didn't have to intercept it just bat it down instead as was his way his mind set was that it was more important to level Fuqua. Fifty plus years later you still see defensive backs intercepting or trying to intercepting Hail Mary's or 4th down passes.

[@unemployicus]

The second touch rule is no longer, right? As long as the ball is in the air and caught before it hits the ground the ball is live.

[@timcarroll490]

Go Steelers and R.I.P. Franco. We ❤️ you and miss you. I'm a fortunate man that I met you and you were the best!

[@sandraruckel6266]

It’s a sad day here in Pittsburgh 💔

[@Doggieman1111]

Legendary. 'Nuff said.

[@billserra1684]

Big Raider fan back then, they had a bunch of fellow Jersey guys (Tatum, Rowe & Phil Villapiano who got clipped on the play), shocked to watch but not surprised--remember, the Raiders were getting a "choker" reputation at that time--they'd lost a lot of big games--until they whupped the Vikings at Super Bowl XI in 1976.

[@Zaaxun]

4th down, 22 seconds, 4th quarter, Madden, knoll, I was 6 years old but remember like yesterday.

[@pallmallred13]

I been loving you since 1974. Rest in Paradise ❤️

[@MyronM_erv1220]

Rip John madden and Franco it’s so much greatness just in this video alone.

[@mbrower3304]

It somehow seems fitting that such a peaceful man should pass away peacefully in his sleep. Rest in heaven Franco! He had such fun keeping this play shrouded in mystery. He enjoyed that as he seemed to have enjoyed life.

[@calcolson2813]

Long ago but not forgotten. Just the first call of quite a few calls favoring the Raiders opponents. But my hats off to the 1970s eray Steelers. They were a bad ass group in those days. If and if I would not have falling in love wit my beloved Raiders. I most certainly have falling in love with the Steelers. This coming Sunday. I hope to see real men on both teams compet for glory. No matter what the outcome. I hope the refs. Don't favor either team go Raiders. Best of luck to the Steelers.

[@kkroeger5868]

Only Kennedy's assassination has received more investigative attention...

[@timburr4453]

Both involved a Noll. Chuck and Grassy

[@MyronM_erv1220]

One of the best plays ever

[@Arya-qm4fm]

Rest In Peace Franco Harris 🙏🏼

[@mikechapman58]

My dad was raised outside of Pittsburgh. Huge Steeler and Penn St fan. Got me my first ever jersey when I was in grade school for Christmas. #32..... RIP.

[@howardcurran5585]

Franco Harris one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

[@dansweda712]

I met Harris at a Ohio turnpike plaza, I was a kid working at Dunkin donuts, he was in line at Popeye's Chicken, I knew who he was as soon as I seen him, he was a big dude! I asked him "are you Franco Harris?" He gave me a grunt, I asked for his autograph, he gave another grunt which I translated as get away from me little white dude, lol it was 1985-6(?) No way in hell would I want to have had to tackle that guy!

[@TheSkyline5467]

RIP Franco. Legend.

[@Icyhotboo]

The phone call: Q: How many security guards do you have available? A: 5/ Touchdown.😇

[@metalneverdies4807]

REST IN PEACE LEGEND

[@chrispierce1739]

The Raiders have always claimed the officials never called it a touchdown. There is an angle that shows the official trailing Franco down the sideline signaling Touchdown when Harris crosses the goal line.

[@christopherlittle579]

Can’t beat this story!!!

[@Ba_A]

Yeeezzz I'm reading so many comments of people that have not understood what was the issue at hand. Please know that back in the day there was a rule which no longer exists today which stated that if the ball (after being passed) was touched by an offensive receiver THEN this player was the ONLY player eligible to catch the ball. If anyone else caught the ball it would be considered as an incomplete pass. So the referees had to decide, according to this old rule (which was eliminated back in 1978) if Fuqua the Steelers' receiver had in fact touched the ball first before Harris caught it, and also making sure that the Raider's defender had touched or not the ball. If Fuqua was the only player who touched the ball before it bounced then Harris' catch would've been illegal. There's no controversy if the ball hit the ground!!!

[@ColumbiaB]

It was Rule 7, Section 5, Article 2, Item 1 (see Official Rules for Professional Football, The National Football League, 1971, pp. 44-45), which was rescinded in 1978. In 1972, when this game was played, it stated, in pertinent part, that once an offensive player touched a pass, he was the •only• offensive player eligible to catch the pass. “However, if a [defensive] player touches [the] pass first, or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one [offensive] player, then all [offensive] players become and remain eligible” to catch the pass. So, if Fuqua •alone• had touched Bradshaw's pass, and then it bounced back to Harris, his catch would have been an illegal reception, and the play would have ended an incomplete pass. But if •Tatum• touched the ball, at all, before Harris caught it, then it was a legal reception. And as long as Tatum touched the pass, then it did not matter if Fuqua touched the ball before Tatum, or after him, or simultaneously with him (or, of course, if Fuqua did not touch it at all). As for whether the ball touched the ground before Harris caught it, well, there are people who gripe loudly that Harris "trapped" the ball against the turf, so in an impartially descriptive sense, yes, there is a controversy. From all the videos of the action I've seen, it's just not plausible that the ball contacted the ground before Harris caught it, and the arguments that he did are simply bogus. But "controversy" is argument, and no one's ever going to stop people from arguing about this.

[@dancollins8296]

R.i.p. Franco Harris and r.i.p. John Madden. 2 of the greatest to ever walk on the field.

[@pinoyboy1964]

Great play by Franco. The ball did not touch the ground. Great defensive play by Tatum so…a touchdown but not an immaculate (perfect) reception unless Bradshaw’s intended target (Fuqua) catches the ball.

[@thomasepley4027]

Saw it live as a Young steeler fan

[@johnshields6852]

It was because that hard hit on the receiver, raiders thought the play was over, it's a great lesson in never quiting till the play is completely whistled dead.

[@charlenepartlow7880]

RIP Franco ! You played it well my man !

[@MrStuntman]

lol this doc watches like a true crime

[@ixfr123]

RIP Franco Harris. One hell of a player.

[@Eysenbeiss]

The problem is, especially with that old guy with the rule book in hand, that the rule says "the first player that TOUCHES the ball ...", but the ball was not touched, since "touching" requires a hand, and the ball clearly cam of the helmet, else it would not have taken that bow ....

[@ColumbiaB]

No. "Touching" the ball, for purposes of the rules, is NOT limited to a player's hands. Contact with •any• part of a player's body, or the equipment or uniform he's wearing, counts as a "touch".

[@Colin_1977]

Understanding that rule, and looking at that black and white photo, it looks like it wasn’t a touchdown. You can tell it pained Madden to talk about it.

[@joseemiliolopezloyola1455]

Legend, rip

[@noeltaylor3594]

Until now, I always thought it clearly bounced of Taturm. But the still shot of Fuqua just might have changed my mind. Instand replay might show a double touch. But, if Fuqua touched it, would it be such a clean bounce right back toward the Steelers offense? This happened hours before Staubach became Captain Comeback for Dallas. He threw two touchdowns in the last four minutes to beat the Niners out west. This day might have made the NFL.

[@ColumbiaB]

Even if the ball did contact Fuqua's hand, it's almost impossible to conceive that, as you noted, it bounced back so hard and fast to Harris if Tatum did not also hit the ball. I believe it's •possible• that Fuqua did touch the ball - but viewing all the replays, it's just not possible to imaging that Tatum did not contact the ball at all. And that's the critical point. If Tatum touched the ball (at all), then Harris (and, for what it's worth, all other Pittsburgh players), became eligible to make a legal reception on that play - even if Fuqua also touched the ball. And to be clear, if both Tatum and Fuqua touched the ball before Harris, it did •not• matter (even under the old NFL rule) in what sequence they touched it. Tatum-to-Fuqua-to-Harris, or Fuqua-to-Tatum-to-Harris, or Tatum-and-Fuqua-•simultaneously•, then Harris - in all those cases, it's a perfectly legal catch by Harris, just as much as if the ball bounced off Tatum alone before Harris caught it.

[@MarkEllison-yo4jx]

Come now Madden, you know Tatum hit the ball. There's no way the ball traveled back nine yards and to the right 4 yards without a force to project the ball. The laws of physics says that Tatum lied. Show the play from the Revere angle! I know you have seen that angle, therefore you need to admit you lost. While the play contained a ridiculous amount of luck, it was legal and you and Tatum know it. Tatum tried to do to the ball, what he did to receivers. Had Frenchie's finger tips touch the ball it would have fallen harmlessly to the ground.

[@sillysausage72]

"The Legend" #32 rip 🙏 🖤💛💪

[@catofninetales3125]

My heartthrob; My skipped heartbeat; my broken heart! My heartfelt tears. 😿

[@Struwwel2]

It's hard to tell, but after repeated viewings I think the ball went off Raiders cornerback Jack Tatum. It ricochets in a direction directly opposite of the way it was traveling. That wouldn't happen without some opposing force acting on it, and Tatum was running directly at the ball.

[@BMoneyTSM]

Bro this mans narration sounds like some history channel show.

[@Cavethug]

It's still legend that the refs called upstairs and asked if they ruled it an incomplete pass if they could guarantee their safety, after they got the answer they walked back on the field and called it a touchdown.

[@holyfamilycrusader3512]

Glad they changed that rule

[@JClaus1221]

We believe this video clearly shows that the jumping man at the 1:28 mark of the video, is holding a small device in his left hand. We believe that device was a small transmitter that controlled the small patch of turf that lifted when Franco Harris caught the ball, thus helping him make the catch.

[@mattrice3993]

Damn was it the same device that killed Kennedy also?

[@hughmungus3250]

R.I.P. Franco Harris, the man who set the standard in Pittsburgh🖤💛🖤💛🖤💛

[@thepettiestpersonever6534]

Franco, I know that you're in the starting lineup in heaven. God bless

[@thesuckerisyou]

This play is a mystery that has inspired Zapruder film levels of dissection, paranoia, and conspiracy theorists galore. It is the greatest play in league history, and yet the lasting thought in your mind is: what really happened? It is absolutely insane.

[@zackhicks5320]

It’s plays like these that make football the greatest sport on this world

[@michealjones3297]

Rip Franco, RIP Madden

[@TP5417]

R I P Franco Harris 🏈

[@jacobwatson1406]

Rip Franco Harris ❤️💯👑

[@tomitstube]

remember it well, everyone in the world rooting for the steelers, they were a massive underdog, the raiders a storied franchise, that great defense, "the steel curtain". and running backs frenchy and franco... decades of being the worst team in the universe and they were on the cusp of greatness, it would take 3 more years but they'd win 4 superbowls in 6 years, the only team to win back-to-back twice.

[@chrispatterson673]

RIP Franco Steelers Nation will love you forever.

[@scottbreseke716]

I was more impressed with the Miracle in Miami play.

[@TaylorArtandFun]

is there more?

[@sg3917]

Bradshaw, Harris and Madden. It doesn’t get any better.

[@starguy2718]

50 years later, the Steelers are finally retiring #32. RIP, Franco

[@kevinlabudde9460]

Pretty sad that his number isn't retired....yet.

[@matthewpickholtz6983]

R.I.P. Mr. Pittsburgh Here we go Steelers, Here we GO

[@sammyvh11]

Clip on Villapiano on his heel. Never called.

[@tomitstube]

it was the right call, simultaneous hit on the ball by both players. legal catch. obviously jack tatum hit the ball for it to go backwards, simple physics tells you that.

[@mrunning10]

Tatum TRANSFERED his MOMENTUM to the ball. But was it through Frenchy's LEFT HAND? @2:54 exactly this time stamp. that ball hit Jack's shoulder pad, possibly Frenchy's left hand was between the ball and the shoulder pad, hit something else on the way back (helmet?). but to believe an entire football was neatly cradled by Frenchy's left had 100% protecting it from direct contact with Jack, is just not reasonable.

[@jacobo9611]

I just figured it was caught but didn’t know the rule was only the first guy can catch it, did they change that rule after?

[@ColumbiaB]

Rule 7, Section 5, Article 2, Item 1 (see Official Rules for Professional Football, The National Football League, 1971, pp. 44-45), was rescinded in 1978. But it was in effect in 1972, and at that time it stated, in pertinent part, that once an offensive player touched a pass, he was the •only• offensive player eligible to catch the pass. “However, if a [defensive] player touches [the] pass first, or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one [offensive] player, then all [offensive] players become and remain eligible” to catch the pass. So, if Fuqua •alone• had touched Bradshaw's pass, and then it bounced back to Harris, his catch would have been an illegal reception, and the play would have ended an incomplete pass. But if •Tatum• touched the ball, at all, before Harris caught it, then it was a legal reception. And as long as Tatum touched the pass, then it did not matter if Fuqua touched the ball before Tatum, or after him, or simultaneously with him (or, of course, if Fuqua did not touch it at all).

[@formermpc10]

The ball hit Fuqua's hand as it was on Tatum's shoulder pad..

[@BrendanGeormer]

Just a few more days would have made all the difference for the celebration of him and the most incredible play in NFL history.

[@PeterKKraus]

God had other plans...

[@jennifer_m.8613]

Now it's a celebration of his life. Just realized during tribute broadcasts that he was 72 years old and the Immaculate Reception was in 1972.