Steelers Now
The Immaculate Reception has many stories surrounding it. The story of the fan with the football will be told in a featured film.
If there is one moment in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers that has captivated the NFL, it’s the Immaculate Reception. The story of the miracle has been featured in NFL Films, top moments in the NFL, and even has its own memorial in Pittsburgh. On Thursday, it was confirmed the Immaculate Reception will have another story told in a feature film.
The story that will be in a featured film will center around the football that disappeared shortly after Franco Harris scored. With 22 seconds left in the game, the Steelers found themselves down 13-7 against the Oakland Raiders. It was fourth down with ten yards to go.
By then, even the owner Art Rooney began to go down to the field to greet the team. It seemed the same old Steelers were headed to the offseason. However, quarterback Terry Bradshaw bought time and threw a last gasp pass. The ball was deflected, seeming to end the game, only to be caught by Harris.
Sixty yards later, the Steelers celebrated in the endzone–propelling them to an eventual dynasty. Was the play legal? Did Harris actually catch it? The moment was filled with mystery.
An even bigger question that unfolded: where was the ball? In the live game footage, Harris holds the ball as he is swarmed by fans and Steelers players. He eventually dropped the ball in celebration with his teammates. From there, it disappeared.
It turns out, the ball was put in play and then secured by two Steelers fans after the PAT. One of those fans was Jim Baker of West Mifflin. He has possessed the football for 52 years. His story and the story of the ball will be told by award-winning filmmaker Bill McAdams Jr.
McAdams told the press, “This film aims to explore how a moment in time can transcend the field, becoming a symbol of love, loss, and human experience.”
Like Harris, being in the right place at the right time can create opportunities beyond one’s wildest imagination. For Baker, his moment in Pittsburgh Steelers history is one of the best around.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Film About the Immaculate Reception Football in Works
