Penn State legend [autotag]Franco Harris[/autotag] was a special guest at the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas as the three-day draft event opened on Thursday night. The Pittsburgh Steelers hall of fame was recognized by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the 50th anniversary of one of the league’s best plays of all time, The Immaculate Reception. But Harris got to be involved in what was actually one of the first round’s more heartwarming moments.
The Steelers used their first-round pick to select Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, and Harris was the one who got to make the announcement for the Steelers.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, @francoharrishof announced the pick of @kennypickett10.
📺 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/RxgCIBr6YZ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 29, 2022
You have to respect the tweet put out by the Pitt football account, with a nice little wink for Franco…
Thanks, Franco Harris 😉
The moment that @KennyPickett10 officially joined the @Steelers 💛
Watch the 2022 #NFLDraft:
📺 NFLN/ESPN/ABC #H2P » @NFL pic.twitter.com/gyWKtlRMjC— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) April 29, 2022
Franco Harris announcing the pick might actually ruin it for a segment of Pitt/Steelers fans aged 50-80
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 29, 2022
Harris got an early look at the draft card before going live on the stage, and his reaction was one of some surprise, so it seemed.
No clue if it was shown on TV, but when Franco Harris saw and glanced at the draft card for the first time, his facial expression was incredible. Eyebrows raised and everything
He did not see that Pickett pick coming at all. Take that for what it’s worth
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) April 29, 2022
Pickett will be staying close to home after a breakout season with the Pitt Panthers in 2021 helped lead Pitt to its first ACC championship. From the hometown perspective, Pickett seems like a home run draft pick for many in the Pittsburgh area.
Pickett was the only quarterback selected in the first round, and he had to wait until the 20th pick to be called. It’s rare to see any quarterback to wait that long in an NFL draft these days, but a mix of the quality of the overall QB class and the needs of teams drafting just didn’t align well for Pickett to go any higher. But perhaps this was just what he wanted anyway.
Of course, the irony of the NFL honoring Franco Harris and The Immaculate Reception in the home city of the Raiders was not lost on many.
This is a savage move by the NFL to have Franco Harris do the Steelers pick, even if the Raiders have moved 3 times since the Immaculate Reception.
— allthings18 (@ALLTHINGS18) April 29, 2022
I totally missed this: Goodell, of course, announced Franco Harris by pointing out it's been 50 years since the Immaculate Reception. Against the Raiders. IN THE RAIDERS' HOME CITY.
That's the most backhanded poke in the eye, EVER, for a draft pick announcement. 🤣
— Mike Frazer (@MPFrazer) April 29, 2022
Franco Harris announcing the Steelers pick in front of a Raiders fans to celebrate the Immaculate Reception is just pic.twitter.com/TtOXCxNP3W
— mountains to oceans. (@mtns2ocean) April 29, 2022
Franco Harris probably enjoyed watching the NFL draft a few picks earlier as he watched Penn State wide receiver [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag]Â go No. 16 overall to the Washington Commanders.
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