Pittsburgh International Airport's Famous Franco Harris Statue Moved

PITTSBURGH, PA — Swamped with requests from people who wanted to visit the statue of Franco Harris at Pittsburgh International Airport after the Steelers Hall-of-Famer's sudden death in December, airport officials decided to move it.

The statues of Harris, George Washington and Nellie Bly - the Western Pennsylvania native who became one of the first female investigative journalists - for many years were displayed in the airport's Airside Terminal. But an airline ticket is needed to access the terminal.

So all three statues have been moved to the Landside Terminal near the main TSA checkpoint, where all airport visitors can visit it with or without a ticket.

“Franco Harris was a man of the people, and we wanted to give fans access to him regardless of whether they’re traveling or not,” said Keny Marshall, Pittsburgh International's arts and culture manager told the airport's online news publication Blue Sky.“He represents so many of the best parts of Pittsburgh, and now his statue is doing that in a much more prominent position.”

The statue shows Harris catching the Immaculate Reception in 1972. One of the most historic plays in NFL history, the Harris catch and resulting touchdown gave the Steelers a playoff victory over the then-Oakland Raiders.