John Fuqua

American football player (born 1947)

American football player

John FuquaNo. 29, 33

Position:| Running back
Personal information
Born:|  (1947-09-12) September 12, 1947 (age 77)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:| 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:| 205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:| Detroit (MI) Eastern
College:| Morgan State
NFL draft:| 1969 / round: 11 / pick: 273
Career history

* New York Giants (1969)
* Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1976)
* New York Stars (1974)*

* Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Career highlights and awards

* 2× Super Bowl champion (IX, X)

Career NFL statistics
| Rushing yards:| 3,031

|

Rush attempts:| 719
Receptions:| 135
Rushing TDs:| 21
Games played:| 100
Stats at Pro Football Reference

John William Fuqua (born September 12, 1947), nicknamed "Frenchy", is an American former professional football running back who played from 1969 to 1976, for the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) and the New York Stars of the World Football League (WFL).

## Biography

[edit]

John Fuqua was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 12, 1947. A 1965 graduate of Detroit's Eastern High School, Fuqua played college football at Morgan State University and was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the New York Giants. The next season, Fuqua was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was while with the Steelers that Fuqua would become part of NFL history as the intended target for Terry Bradshaw's pass that resulted in the Immaculate Reception. Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum hit Fuqua just as the ball arrived. It has never been established whether the ball hit Fuqua or Tatum. This was critical, since under the rules of the time, once a pass touched an offensive player he was the only one eligible to catch the pass. If the ball had hit Fuqua without touching Tatum, the rules called for the play to be blown dead once Franco Harris touched the ball. Fuqua reportedly insists to this day that he knows whom the ball hit first, but will never tell.[1]

Fuqua nicknamed himself "The French Count". He is remembered for being one of the flashiest dressers in the NFL, and would occasionally appear in public wearing platform shoes having see-through heels that contained water and a live tropical fish selected from his aquarium to match the color of the day's outfit.[2] He won two Super Bowl titles during his Steelers tenure, which were also the first two championships in the team's history.

Over the course of his career, Fuqua played in 100 games, rushing for 3,031 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns. His best season was in 1970, his first with the Steelers, when he rushed for 691 yards and seven touchdowns. In this season, he set a then Steelers single-game rushing record of 218 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. This was later surpassed in 2006 by Willie Parker when he gained 223 yards against the Cleveland Browns.

Teammate Franco Harris had his fanclub "Franco's Italian Army", and Fuqua had "Frenchy's Foreign Legion".[3]

In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, Fuqua created a candy bar called "The Immaculate Confection".[4]

## In popular culture

[edit]

In Episode 31 of the fantasy comedy television series The Good Place, demon Michael, while visiting Earth, tells people that his assistant Janet is named Lisa "Frenchy" Fuqua.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Two Words Say It all: "Immaculate Reception"
2. ^ 12/24/73 Sports Illustrated, People Section.
3. ^ "Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers - Article". Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
4. ^ "Home ~ John "Frenchy" Fuqua, Former Pittsburgh Steeler Pro Football Player, Presents the Immaculate Confection ~ Official Candy Bar". frenchyfuqua.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
5. ^ "03x04 - Jeremy Bearimy - Transcripts - Forever Dreaming". transcripts.foreverdreaming.org. Retrieved January 21, 2023.

* v
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* e

New York Giants 1969 NFL draft selections

* Fred Dryer
* Vernon Vanoy
* Rich Houston
* Al Brenner
* George Irby
* Ray Hickl
* Lou Galiardi
* John "Frenchy" Fuqua
* Harry Blackney
* Richard Perrin
* Steve Smith
* Don Herrmann
* Byron Jones
* Ken Riley

* v
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* e

Pittsburgh Steelers

* Founded in 1933
* Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
* Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Franchise|

* History
* All-Time Team
* Seasons
* Logos and uniforms
* Coaches
* All-time roster (A–K, L–Z)
* Starting quarterbacks
* First-round draft picks
* Records

Stadiums|

* Home fields: Forbes Field
* Pitt Stadium
* Three Rivers Stadium
* Acrisure Stadium

* Training facilities: Rooney Field
* Point Stadium
* UPMC Rooney Sports Complex
* Chuck Noll Field

Culture|

* Football in Western Pennsylvania
* Rooney family
* Myron Cope
* Steelmark
* Steeler Nation
* Terrible Towel
* Steel Curtain
* Black Sunday
* Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story
* Evening Shade
* The Chief
* "Renegade"
* "Here We Go"
* "Black and Yellow"
* YinzCam
* This Is Us
* Steel Curtain Roller Coaster

Lore|

* Steelers lore
* J.P. Rooneys
* Pennsylvania Keystoners
* "Pennsylvania Polka"
* Steagles
* Card-Pitt
* Steelerettes
* Immaculate Reception
* 1975 AFC Championship Game
* Immaculate Deflection
* Jerome Bettis trade
* Immaculate Redemption/The Tackle
* 3:16 game

Rivalries|

* Baltimore Ravens
* Cincinnati Bengals
* Cleveland Browns
* Dallas Cowboys
* Denver Broncos
* Las Vegas Raiders
* New England Patriots
* Philadelphia Eagles
* Tennessee Titans

Media|

* Broadcasters
* KDKA-TV
* WPKD-TV
* SportsNet Pittsburgh
* Charlie Batch
* Chris Hoke
* Radio Network
* WDVE-FM
* WBGG-AM
* Bill Hillgrove
* Tunch Ilkin
* Craig Wolfley
* Steelers figures in broadcasting

Division championships (24)|

* 1972
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1983
* 1984
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 2001
* 2002
* 2004
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2014
* 2016
* 2017
* 2020

Conference championships (8)|

* 1974
* 1975
* 1978
* 1979
* 1995
* 2005
* 2008
* 2010

League championships (6)|

* 1974 (IX)
* 1975 (X)
* 1978 (XIII)
* 1979 (XIV)
* 2005 (XL)
* 2008 (XLIII)

Retired numbers|

* 32
* 70
* 75

Hall of Fame members|

* Players: Bettis
* Blount
* Bradshaw
* Butler
* Dawson
* Dudley
* Faneca
* Greene
* Ham
* Harris
* Johnson
* Lambert
* Layne
* Polamalu
* Shell
* Stallworth
* Stautner
* Swann
* Webster
* Woodson

* Coaches and administration: Bell
* Cowher
* Kiesling
* Noll
* Art Rooney
* Dan Rooney

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League
* Conference: American Football Conference
* Division: North Division

* v
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* e

Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl IX champions

* 5 Terry Hanratty
* 10 Roy Gerela
* 12 Terry Bradshaw
* 17 Joe Gilliam
* 20 Rocky Bleier
* 22 Dick Conn
* 23 Mike Wagner
* 24 J. T. Thomas
* 25 Ron Shanklin
* 26 Preston Pearson
* 27 Glen Edwards
* 31 Donnie Shell
* 32 Franco Harris (MVP)
* 33 John Fuqua
* 34 Andy Russell
* 35 Steve Davis
* 38 Ed Bradley
* 39 Bobby Walden
* 43 Frank Lewis
* 45 Jim Allen
* 46 Reggie Harrison
* 47 Mel Blount
* 50 Jim Clack
* 51 Loren Toews
* 52 Mike Webster
* 54 Marv Kellum
* 55 Jon Kolb
* 56 Ray Mansfield
* 57 Sam Davis
* 58 Jack Lambert
* 59 Jack Ham
* 62 Jim Wolf
* 63 Ernie Holmes
* 64 Steve Furness
* 68 L. C. Greenwood
* 71 Gordon Gravelle
* 72 Gerry Mullins
* 73 Rick Druschel
* 74 Dave Reavis
* 75 Joe Greene
* 77 Charlie Davis
* 78 Dwight White
* 82 John Stallworth
* 84 Randy Grossman
* 86 Reggie Garrett
* 87 Larry Brown
* 88 Lynn Swann
* 89 John McMakin

* Head coach: Chuck Noll

* Coaches: Bud Carson
* Dick Hoak
* George Perles
* Dan Radakovich
* Louis Riecke
* Lionel Taylor
* Paul Uram
* Woody Widenhofer

* v
* t
* e

Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl X champions

* 5 Terry Hanratty
* 10 Roy Gerela
* 12 Terry Bradshaw
* 17 Joe Gilliam
* 20 Rocky Bleier
* 23 Mike Wagner
* 24 J. T. Thomas
* 27 Glen Edwards
* 29 Brent Sexton
* 31 Donnie Shell
* 32 Franco Harris
* 33 John Fuqua
* 34 Andy Russell
* 36 Dave Brown
* 38 Ed Bradley
* 39 Bobby Walden
* 43 Frank Lewis
* 44 Mike Collier
* 45 Jim Allen
* 46 Reggie Harrison
* 47 Mel Blount
* 50 Jim Clack
* 51 Loren Toews
* 52 Mike Webster
* 54 Marv Kellum
* 55 Jon Kolb
* 56 Ray Mansfield
* 57 Sam Davis
* 58 Jack Lambert
* 59 Jack Ham
* 63 Ernie Holmes
* 64 Steve Furness
* 68 L. C. Greenwood
* 71 Gordon Gravelle
* 72 Gerry Mullins
* 74 Dave Reavis
* 75 Joe Greene
* 76 John Banaszak
* 78 Dwight White
* 82 John Stallworth
* 84 Randy Grossman
* 86 Reggie Garrett
* 87 Larry Brown
* 88 Lynn Swann (MVP)

* Head coach: Chuck Noll

* Coaches: Bud Carson
* Dick Hoak
* George Perles
* Dan Radakovich
* Louis Riecke
* Lionel Taylor
* Paul Uram
* Woody Widenhofer

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