Oakland Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano (41) and Bubba Smith (77) combine to stop Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris (32) during the 1974 AFC Conference Championship game at the Oakland Coliseum. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

How the Immaculate Reception created a lasting friendship

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 12/21/22

On Dec. 23 each year, former Raiders star linebacker Phil Villapiano would get a call from an old friend, Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris.

Harris always reminded Villapiano of the most famous play in NFL history, the "Immaculate Reception," and how they were connected by it forever.

Villapiano won't get a call this year from his friend, who died in Pittsburgh at age 72, but the famous play lives on in the minds of NFL fans.

In a 1972 AFC divisional playoff game, the Steelers trailed the Raiders, 7-6, with 22 seconds left. On 4th-and-10, Terry Bradshaw launched a desperation pass to Frenchy Fuqua.

The moment the ball arrived, Raiders safety Jack Tatum crushed Fuqua, propelling the ball back to Harris, who scooped it up and raced down the sideline for a walk-off touchdown.

On the play, Harris slipped past Villapiano and into football folklore.

Although the Raiders lost, Villapiano gained a lifelong friend.

Rest In Peace to a true classic, Franco Harris. @steelers #FrancoHarris #ImmaculateReception pic.twitter.com/3vrESZq2Lo
— VILLAPIANO (@Villapiano41) December 21, 2022

Harris and Villapiano grew close after their playing days. In 2012, the Immaculate Reception's 40th anniversary, Harris invited Villapiano to Pittsburgh to celebrate.

They attended Raiders games together, engaging in lighthearted banter whenever they saw each other.

"Me and Phil go at it every now and then," Harris recently told Pittsburgh Magazine.

Villapiano was looking forward to going at it again during Saturday's Steelers-Raiders game in Pittsburgh. On the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, Harris' jersey will be retired — the third Steeler so honored.

Villapiano plans to honor his friend.

"We will turn this into a celebration of his life somehow," Villapiano shared in a text to his daughter, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

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