Pictures can capture a moment in time, a moment many of us remember and some many never have seen.
So, we decided to share some of those moments in time through 'Picture Perfect' where we will bring to life historical Steelers photos.
Throughout the remainder of the offseason, Steelers.com will be featuring photos that tell the story of the Steelers through the years.
In today's feature, we highlight the Immaculate Reception.
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It is a play that will forever be a part of Steelers history.
A play fans of all generations will talk about for years to come.
A play that quite simply, was immaculate.
On Saturday, Dec. 23, 1972, the Steelers were hosting the Oakland Raiders in an AFC Divisional Playoff game in front of 50,327 fans at Three Rivers Stadium.
Because of television rules, the game wasn't shown within a 75-mile radius of Pittsburgh, forcing fans to either listen to the radio or travel outside of the market to watch the game at area hotels or homes of friends and family.
Those who packed Three Rivers Stadium definitely brought the energy of the entire city with them, hoping and dreaming for the team's first-ever playoff win.
The game was a defensive battle through the first half, scoreless as both teams headed into the locker room. In the second half the Steelers were able to get on the board thanks to two field goals by Roy Gerela, giving them a 6-0 lead.
The Raiders weren't to be denied though. Raiders' quarterback Ken Stabler got his team fired up when he got outside rookie defensive end Craig Hanneman, who was sent in to rush the passer, and raced for a 30-yard touchdown run to give Oakland a 7-6 lead with just 1:17 to play.
"It was a terrible feeling," said Hanneman. "It's not about you. It's about the team and I let the team down. I let George Perles down. He sent me in with a job to do and I didn't fulfill it."
Things looked bleak for the Steelers, as they quickly found themselves in a hole, their season possibly coming to a disappointing end. But they never gave up.
Quarterback Terry Bradshaw and the rest of the offense was facing an intimidating fourth-and-10 from their own 40-yard line with just 22 seconds remaining.
While under pressure, Bradshaw threw the ball in the direction of Frenchy Fuqua and as it arrived, he collided with Raiders' safety Jack Tatum, the ball ricocheted back and Harris miraculously scooped it out of the air and took off running for a 60-yard touchdown reception that gave the Steelers the 13-7 win.
"A miracle sent from heaven," said Bradshaw. "What else can you say."
A wild celebration ensued as the stadium erupted with joy.
"I don't think the fans knew what happened," said Fuqua, who was knocked to the ground after the collision. "Everyone I spoke to after I got up off the ground said what happened, what happened. Someone said it's a miracle. Then we had to go through that long, long wait when the referees went in there to look at replay and it seemed like an eternity."
It might have been appropriate to have to wait an eternity for a play that will live for eternity.
"One of the most exhilarating things to watch during that play is what happened after the play," said Harris. "When you see the fans' reaction and how they jump on the field, hugging players, players hugging fans. That is a great visual and a great feeling to see that moment. It was like the whole stadium erupted and that feeling that everybody had on that field. You can see it and you can feel it through the film, how special it was."
Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. was in the press box watching the game, but after Stabler scored he headed to the locker room to greet the team and try and console them. While he was headed there, Harris scored.
"I mention to people that The Chief, Mr. Art Rooney Sr., got on the elevator thinking we lost and when he got off, he got off a winner," said Harris.
Through the passage of time the excitement of the play has remained and will always remain something nobody in Steelers Nation will ever forget, whether they saw it happen in person or learned about it years later. The 'Immaculate Reception,' as it was later dubbed, was voted the best play in NFL History as a part of the NFL's 100th season and they aren't wrong.
"This play is special in so many ways," said Harris. "Part of it is because of the prior history of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The prior fan reaction and feeling about the team. People always said the Steelers found a way to lose. I look at this play and we found a way to win. Even though we needed something immaculate to make it happen, we found a way to win. What made it special is that drive, feeling and attitude of finding a way to win has never left.
"When you look at what makes this so special, this started a string of playoff appearances and Super Bowl wins that never happened before in the NFL. Do we connect that to that first playoff win? I think we do. It gave a feeling that we now are one of the best teams in the league. We went on to show we were the best team in the league.
"This play started our first step into what was to become an incredible run that continues today."
Steelers President Art Rooney II remembers where he was when the Immaculate Reception took place, because he was only feet away. Rooney was on the sideline for the game at Three Rivers Stadium, working as a part-time equipment manager while still in college.
Rooney felt the electric atmosphere that day as the Steelers were playing in their first playoff game ever.
"It was very exciting," recalled Rooney. "People were fired up. Fans were fired up. The team was fired up. It was a pretty special day, that's for sure."
With just 22 seconds left in the game, Rooney stood on the sideline not knowing what to expect, only able to hope for the best.
And then it happened.
"The play happened almost right in front of me," said Rooney. "I don't think any of us were expecting anything. After Ken Stabler made his run and we were down to our fourth down there, I can't say that any of us were expecting what happened at that point, that's for sure."
When Harris scooped the ball into his hands and took it 60 yards for the game winning touchdown, Three Rivers Stadium exploded.
"People came running out of the stands," said Rooney. "It was just chaos. It was just a wild scene. A player that had played for us back in the sixties named Brady Keys came running out of the stands, and he came running out to me and got me in a bear hug, and was jumping up and down and I almost passed out. It was just a wild, wild scene.
"Most people don't remember that we actually finished the game with people on the field. The officials decided that it would be too hard to clear the field, and there were only a few seconds left. We ran the extra point and just the last couple of plays with people surrounding the field. One of my jobs at that point was kind of watching our equipment. We were trying to make sure we got our equipment off the field. I'm pretty sure we lost a few pieces of equipment to the fans that day.
"It was a wild, wild scene."
