‘All Hell Broke Loose’: How a Last-Second Heave Led to One of the NFL’s Biggest Controversies 

*First RIP to John Madden last year and now Franco Harris!*

Rip Franco Harris even as a raider fan undeniably a defining moment in nfl history no matter what side you are on

Pittsburgher here. There was no greater rivalry than the Steelers/Raiders. Loved this presentation and footage I haven't seen before. What great memories of a great decade for both teams.

Having this & the Tuck Rule on our teams resume is insanity smh

RIP Franco. We won’t have these guys much longer, It’s been a pleasure hearing the Raiders and Steelers of the late 60s-80s. Villapiano is the best storyteller 😂

I have a old friend from Pittsburgh and we trash talk each other but we both realize that those rivalries where the best smash mouth football games especially if you got to watch those games back in the 70's like I did as a kid.

Let it stand as a testament of the passion and reverence of the what the NFL used to to be and what the game was about…the game and the rivalry, not what it has become. RIP MADDEN AND HARRIS and all those past heroes of the game.

With all the controversy aside I’m just amazed with how well this mini doc turned out. It’s amazing to hear the voices of John Madden, Al Davis, Villapiano, men who were passionate about football, the Raiders and most of all WINNING. These men built the foundation for the Raiders Organization and I wouldn’t be a fan without the legacy they left behind. Salute! ☠️🏴‍☠️

Some serious mental gymnastics coming from the Raiders players. 🙃

I love my Raiders, a great legacy this team has.

As bad as this was for the Raiders, the TUCK rule game 29 years later, was FAR WORSE. Because here we are looking at the film of the immaculate reception, over and over, back-and-forth. And the TUCK rule game, it was more than obvious that Tom Brady fumbled that damn football. He even admitted he fumbled. Unlike Frenchy Fuqua who makes light humor of The immaculate reception.

RIP FRANCO HARRIS

I saw it when it happened 50 years ago and it still makes me sick.

So basically it was the right call. Not enough evidence to overturn it

Those were the best days, the games between the Raiders and Steelers were great.

The Autumn Wind is a Pirate. 🏴‍☠️💀🏴‍☠️

I met Mr Davis in the second Deck of the Oakland coliseum before a game he was just looking at the field and warm ups we walked by and shook his hand that was the greatest day as a raider fan for me not too many fans get a chance like those especially now a days,

The Autumn Wind. 🏴‍☠️💀🏴‍☠️

Rest In Power Madden.🤘🏻🎱🤘🏻

i was a kid watching my Raiders on TV that day. doesn't matter how it happened, it happened. it happened so fast, no one knew it was happening. both those teams were great. many of my favorite players are now passing away... ah, mortality...

Well done. The raiders social media content has been committed to Excellence all season. Award winning work right here 👏🏾

Freddie B describes it the most colorful way...We got screwed by a guy with no balls 🤣🤣

RIP Snake Stabler. Thee greatest Raider. Mr Clutch. HOF.

Poetic how the football gods remembered the Raiders with the "Wrong Jones Lateral" this past Sunday.

Great film! Thank you for putting this together. It's great to see the old R's...the best.

unbelievable scene of the fans lined up on the sideline before the last play of the game. Never have seen that before

It’s a moment in time that will last forever.

Even after all these years this play is still The Greatest Catch of All Time! I’m so happy that we still have players alive that were part of it!

The call was to Art McNally who was the head referee. No one called to ask about security.

RIP Franco Harris

Long time Steeler fan. I as only 2 at the time this was played so no recollection. Great video, well presented visuals & all. I’ll always respect Madden as a class act in addressing and handling the situation.

Absolutely LEGENDARY AND LEGITIMATE 🏈⭐️ Jack could have easily intercepted that pass and GAME OVER😳Oakland Raiders win👀 but Tatum ALWAYS TRIED TO KILL THE RECEIVER ⚡️

You know that Franco is wearing that big smile of his up there somewhere. RIP Franco.

Hah, so there was an explaination, there would have been a riot...now it makes sense.

Look at Frenchy with that smile! Awesome!

It is said that on that day in that game there was a total of 15 Hall of famers that played in that game.... The most Hof's ever to be in one game is still a record that will in my opinion never be broken...

Frenchy didn't catch the ball, he tried to but Jack hit the ball with his shoulder and Franco caught it and ran it in. Period. Watch the replay in slow motion. It is obvious. If they don't show it blown up and slowed down then they don't want you to know the truth.

RIP John Madden Ray Guy Franco Harris and Ronnie Hillman

I was 1 year old when this occurred. I found out my dad was a Steelers fan. I don't share in it. I am a Raider fan . We have to win this game in Pittsburgh this weekend the 50th year of this moment

I was 8 years old when this game was played. My little brother was born the week before on December 11th, but to this day, and I imagine for the rest of my days, at now 58 years old, whenever 1972 pops into my head, it is this game that I think of first and foremost from that year and my brother's birthday is a distant second. As with Coach Madden, I'll go to my grave thinking we were robbed of the game by a bad call. That Frenchy Fuqua to this day refuses to say anything, is reason enough for me to believe he touched the ball with his hand and Tatum's hit was the force that propelled the ball back from Fuqua's hand so that Franco Harris could reach down and catch it and run to glory. A slice of history. But to hear both the play by play of those two legendary broadcasters, Bill King and Curt Gowdy, calling the play, and the game, brought a smile to my face.

I'm a loyal raiders fan since 1969 I saw this game live from Start to finish this was the most disappointing loss in my life as a raider fan and there's been a few lately

Legendary story, thanks for sharing.

The Imaculate reception ... long may it live.

RIP Franco.

RIP FRANCO HARRIS From this old Raiders fan.

1972!!!!---what a time in Sports History and Puberty!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perfect Combination!!!! Trade this Time and History For Nothing!

Tatum always claimed he never touched the ball, but if Franco hadn’t picked it up and scored, Jack would have taken credit for breaking up the pass to Frenchy.

RIP Franco!!

Very cool, with some camera angles I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever seen footage of the actual last play of the game, the Stabler pass to Chester that was broken up…always wondered exactly what happened AFTER the Immaculate Reception, since Franco scored with five seconds left.

Only Raiders fans think it hit the ground. R.I.P. Franco Harris.

RIP John Madden, Chuck Noll, Ken Stabler, Franco Harris, LC Greenwood, Jack Tatum, Gene Upshaw, George Blanda

This was a very illuminating video. I always knew the IR was a famous play from the great Franco Harris. I remember it at the time. I never knew there was any controversy about it being a possible dead ball. Wow!

My grandfather is Brady Keyes Jr. And although I believe he was retired at the time he played for the Steelers and was on the sidelines when this happened. A fact that I only found out at his funeral. As for me I've been a Raiders fan for over 30 years and I'm so sad that I missed the opportunity to have one of the greatest conversations I could have ever had with him.

"Damn, That's Tatum" Love it!

Good point. How do you make a call when you dont know what really happened?

Watched it live on TV. The officials were caught up in the hysteria.

Rest In Peace Franco Harris

Great stuff! What a great piece on this football history!

That we'll never know the answer is obviously what makes the play so memorable after all these years. But that freeze frame at 10:24 sure makes it look unlikely that Tatum didn't touch the ball.

Love these illustations!

With all the interviews that have happened over the years , why didn't anyone get to Tatum and ask him if the ball also hit his pads or helmet??

Oakland was in SO MANY CLASSIC GAMES 🏈⭐️I’m 59 and remember when ✊

Damn! 9 hours after the Raiders post this Franco Harris dies😱

If you watch it very closely watch number 86 for the Oakland Raiders he freezes everywhere. We acted sooner when Franco caught the ball. Things might’ve been a little different, but I guess we’ll never know.

Thank you for finally remembering Jack Tatum, he should never be forgotten! He was the greatest and he played for y'all. Be a little more grateful.

I love how Jack Tatum went to Frenchy and said to tell the truth to the ref.

Swearingen called up to Art McNally, who was supervisor of officiating for the NFL, and present at Three Rivers that day.

This is the first video I’ve seen that had the of play by play by the late great Bill King. The epitome of what an announcer is. His excitement and passion was unspoiled by partiality. He is a hall of famer and one of the greatest

Great content ☠️ RIP Al Davis & JOHN MADDEN

It looks like with the old raiders talking to the guy that their having a counseling session trying to still cope with what happened

Raymond Chester is a cool dude. He hired me at my first job while i was in high school back when he was managing Lake Chabot Golf Course.

RAIDERSSSSSS!!!!!!!

Ah, what a great moment in NFL history! RIP to all of the players and coaches who participated on that epic game and have now passed on.✝️ Now, let's be honest, that ball hit Tatum which made it a live ball for any receiver & running back to catch.

wow they never show that other angle whenever this is discussed

RIP Franco and all the others that played that day I remember watching it on TV,!!!2022

Something else happened in 1972... anybody? Anybody? The Dolphins undefeated season! If the Raiders had won this game, maybe they end the magical run of the Fish the following week? We'll never know...

Those tackles are insane nothing like now n days

There was joy in HateTheRaidersVille after the immaculate reception on December 23, 1972. In the 1970s, my favorite NFL teams were the Packers, Bears and whoever was playing against the Raiders. I no longer hate the Raiders of old. In retrospect, I appreciate the accomplishments of John Madden, Kenny Stabler, Jack Tatum and many more from the old Raiders teams. I actually purchased a Raiders sweatshirt sometime in the 1990s...but the shirt was doubly discounted. Otherwise, I wouldn't have purchased it, but the fact that I did purchase it demonstrates that I no longer disdained those magnificent Raiders of Old.

It's the controversies that, sometimes, create the greatest rivalries and the most interesting storylines..

IMMACULATE DE-CEPTION...& TUCK-RULE FUMBLE GAME...screwed us out of 2 Super Bowl appearances...TRUTH!!🏴‍☠️☠🏴‍☠️💯⚔

Ouch, look at the turf

The verdict: Jack Tatum's inability to refrain from taking a cheap shot cost the Raiders a chance at a Super Bowl and ruined the Maddens' anniversary.

I was a teenager in 1972 and be watching the game... It happened so fast , and I was a neutral fan in 1972. We had great players in the 70's and we be will never know the answer... Rest in peace, everyone involved in this great game... 50 years from 2022 , people will still be talking about this game...

Rip Madden and Franco Harris

LETS GO RAIDERS!!!!! XMAS EVE MELT THE CURTAINS!!!

All these names that l haven’t heard in forty years are becoming familiar again.

Hey guys Steeler fan here. I love the rivalry, missed the good days of Raiders VS Steelers back in the day when great defenses decided games. Having said that, you can analyze this play everything you want, whatever happened in that collision I am pretty sure not even Jack or Fuqua know for sure 100%, but I guess the refs made the call to the best of their abilities. I like the analysis on both sides, and I think aside Al Davis spiteful comments, it is a balanced well done video. Fifty years after it is still an amazing play even if the Raider Nation hurts everytime they see it. Don't worry we have our own collection of those. RIP Franco, a great player and human being.

Two offensive players can’t touch the ball. Ref vs the Raiders .

Just win baby! All respect to the OG, great play, great game. Let do it today, RN4L.

growing up there in oakland that play tore every raider fan up. i was a teenage but pittsburgh lost to miami anyway, so it doesn't bother me that much. the one that always bothered me was denvers rob lytle who fumbled in the 1977 afc championship game. and the bs tuck rule game . raiders didn't get any breaks in big games

Crazy how many franchise-altering decisions not in our favor have happened to us. Imagine if that wasn't ruled a touchdown and imagine if they ruled Brady fumbled the ball. Could have a lot more super bowls under our belts.

After all these years the tears of the raider fans STILL tastes great 😊

Without a doubt the most famous play ever.

Let it go Raiders. The ball bounced off of Tatum’s shoulder pad and Franco caught it out of the air and ran it in for a touchdown. 😊

I think it bothers the Raiders so much because they'd had consistent success against the Dolphins at that time. Some believe that the '72 Raiders team could've stopped the Dolphin's undefeated season (which was already based on the weakest schedule of nearly every team that year)

if it was today's fans, they would blame lamonica for throwing 2 ints and a "young" stabler for fumbling twice.

As crazy as this play was, none of it would really matter. It was Miami's year. They weren't going to be denied. And this is coming from a life long Raiders fan.

The crucial parts of Steelers’ passing game was still in college in 1972.

The "Immaculate Reception" will always hurt. The "Tuck Rule" will always hurt. We beat the Patriots last week on a crazy play, it doesn't come close to the tuck rule game because of the magnitude of that playoff game but I'll take it. Now we just need to beat the Steelers and that won't be make it even but I'll take a win. Real Raider fans know the past and real Raider fans will never forget and definitely never forgive! It should be mandatory that all new players for the Raiders should have to watch every significant game and learn the history of the franchise to truly become a Raider!

We inadvertently created two generational dynasties off of referee mistakes.