Immaculate Reception Wide Angle Game Film - Enhanced

Truly amazing wide angle "All 22" game film of the "Immaculate Reception." We edited it to show full speed, slow motion and added enhanced closeup views (along with the projector sound effect). Not sure who is responsible for making the raw footage available after nearly 50 years, but THANK YOU!

It's always been obvious to me that the ball hit Tatum in the chest. Less clear has been Franco's catch. But when you see it here, it's obvious he got it.

There's an official right on top of the play who sees the hit, then tracks the ball right into Franco's hands. Franco's motion is silky smooth, with no hesitation or adjustment that you'd have to make to gather in a trapped ball. It goes right to him. He gathers it in seamlessly and races toward the end zone.

50 years later, it's still the greatest play in NFL history. RIP, Franco.

P.S. -- From the 1972 NFL Rule Book: Rule 7, Section 5, Article 2, Item 2-c: Any forward pass (legal or illegal) becomes incomplete and ball is dead immediately if pass is caught by any [offensive] player after it has touched ineligible [offensive] player or second eligible [offensive player], and before any touching by [a defensive player]. The Penalty of this this infraction is a loss of down at the previous spot.

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.

So when the ball made contact with Tatum, it instantly became legal for Franco to catch the ball.

[russellmurray]

The NFL's answer to the Zapruder film. RIP, Franco Harris, a great player and a greater human being.

[bobporch]

I am sad to learn of Franco's passing. As sophomores in high school we played in a game on opposing teams. Down and distance had no meaning. It seemed their coach just kept calling the same play: "Just give Franco the ball." I will never forget one play. I was at the left side corner and Franco ran a sweep and started down the sideline straight at me. I hit him with everything I had, put my shoulder into his gut, and wrapped him up. He carried me about 20 yards before someone pushed us out of bounds. He was like tackling a locomotive. Two years later we met at an All Star banquet. He was named the number 1 County All Star for football. I was the county cross country champion. We shared a good laugh when I told him he was the reason I switched to cross country. He was a class guy and player. I guess I am in good company when I consider all the Pro D-backs he flattened. RIP Champ🥇🏆🏈

[davidpallin]

A sportswriter said of this play, “the play lasted for seventeen seconds, 50, 000 people witnessed this play, but no one saw a thing.”

[Enigma]

I was always convinced that Tatum hit the ball. Simple physics. But... I had never before seen an angle that actually showed Franco "catching" the ball. Didn't hit the ground. And I'm watching this on 12-21-22. Just announced today that Franco has passed away at 72. RIP to a legend of the game.

[davidpegram]

Unbelievable. Thanks for posting this. I never before realized just how far Bradshaw threw that ball.

[deanhartwell]

Raider fan. RIP Franco Harris, one of the all-time greatest players!

[josephpanozzo]

Fifty years later and it’s still the most amazing play in NFL history. Thank you for sharing this footage.

[KeithFroehlich]

By the way the mystery is over

Tim's enhanced view shows the ball hitting Tatum, it also shows Franco catching the football clean high, nowhere near the turf.

Like Peyton said on his show that film was hiding in Oakland for almost 50 years.

Everybody knows why, the Raiders know why

They always knew the truth.

[ralphfirley]

Wow!
I had never seen this footage/angle before. Great work! That was clearly a catch. RIP Franco 🙏

[steelerstitles]

The most scrutinized play in NFL history. Terry, to Tatum's shoulder, to Franco, and in.

[shredder]

I’m a Bengal fan from Cincinnati but I was sad when I heard Franco had passed away. He was a pain in the ass for the the bengals but you couldn’t help but love and respect the guy! RIP

[karlsimonian]

Tatum had a clean shot to intercept the pass, instead he did his usual "blow up the receiver" and history was made.

[SouthBaySteelers]

I’ve never seen a video of this play with that much high definition…and the wide angle provides so much more information. Simply amazing. I was at the following game…AFC championship vs Miami. Everyone in Pittsburgh loved Franco. He attained a god-like status among Steelers fans from that moment on. Remember, this was the first playoff game the Steelers ever won from their birth to that moment.

[JD-zjtw]

John Madden, and others, stated that none of the referee's signaled for a touchdown at the conclusion of the play and that that added to the confusion of what happened; and that it was not until 15 minutes later that the head referee went to the middle of the field to signal a touchdown. The film conclusively shows that the sideline referee was approximately 10 yards from the spot Franco Harris caught the ball. He then follows Harris down the sideline and after Harris crosses the goal line, you see him throw both arms up in the air signaling a touchdown! He saw the play right in front of him--he didn't hesitate in allowing the play to continue and clearly signaled the play was a touchdown, refuting Madden's and others claims that a touchdown was never signaled until 15 minutes after the play. Awesome film find! (As an aside, the argument of the clip by Pittsburgh was also directly in the sight plane of the same sideline referee and you can see the Oakland Raider defender move sideways when blocked, which indicates a legal block, and not forward which would have indicated a behind the back block which would have been an illegal clipping penalty. Regarding whether Fucqua touched the ball first or not is not able to be determined in this shot, but in other angles/film, the ball goes by Fucqua's head then strikes Tatum. Did the ball touch Fucqua's hand(s) before hitting Tatum's shoulder pads? Only Frenchy knows for sure, I suppose.)

[kaypie]

THIS is pure GOLD.

Thank You for posting it!!!

[Bandboxxer-vn]

An aspect often overlooked in this spectacular play, is the ability of Bradshaw to avoid the rush, get out of the pocket, set up, and get a rocket off 35 yards downfield under extreme duress. Not too many QB's could match Bradshaw's athletic talents. RIP Franco.

[postalinVT]

WOW First clear and complete video of the catch. Thanks Tim !!

[bobsmith]

Amazing, both the play and this video. Harris began the play as a blocking back, and started down field when Bradshaw threw the ball. Instincts and reactions are what differentiate the amateurs from the pros, and this play is a perfect example of that. Thanks for posting.

[stevenashe]

For someone who wasn’t remembered for having blazing speed, Franco sure did well to get to that end zone and seemingly erase the angle the DB seemed to have on him.

[snuffle]

After hearing about his passing I never remembered much about the elusive QB, the pass, the "bounce' and then Franco's scoop and scoot. Wonderful to see the old video played wide angle and close up. Thanks a million. RIP champ.