Franco Harris is a former professional football player. He played college football for the Penn State, where he partnered up with co-star running back, Lydell Mitchell. Harris led the Nittany Lions in scoring in 1970.

Harris was a fullback in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks. He was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft, the 13th overall pick. He played his first 12 years in the NFL with the Steelers; his 13th and final year was spent with the Seahawks.Harris was named the league's Rookie of the Year by both The Sporting News and United Press International. Harris was chosen for nine consecutive Pro Bowls (1972–1980), and was All-Pro in 1977. Harris rushed for more than 1,000 yards in eight seasons, breaking a record set by Jim Brown. The running back tandem of Harris and Rocky Bleier combined with a strong defense to win four Super Bowls following the 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 seasons. Harris was the 1975 Super Bowl MVP. Harris was the first African American to be named Super Bowl MVP.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Harris and Mitchell partnered in 1996 to rescue the Parks Sausage Company in Baltimore, the first African-American owned business to go public in the U.S. In January 2011, Harris became co-owner of the Pittsburgh Passion.