Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickens added something extra to his signal calling Dec. 24 at Three Rivers Stadium.

Even the TV viewers could hear him bark “Franco! Fran- co!” prior to the center’s snap.

On one occasion in the second quarter, Pickens ran for a first down after calling “Franco! Franco!”

In the most bittersweet of celebrations, the late Franco Harris (who died Dec. 23 at age 72) was honored for being the main man in the iconic “Immaculate Reception” 50 years ago on the same field.

On the same evening, with temperatures in the single digits, Harris’ No. 32 was retired. The only other retired Steelers’ numbers are Ernie Stautner’s No. 70 and Joe Greene’s No. 75.

Many of the surviving members of the ’72 team were present for an emotional halftime ceremony.

With a dramatic finish, Pittsburgh defeated the visiting Las Vegas Raiders, 13-10. It was the Oakland Raiders the Steelers defeated, 13-7, a half century ago, thanks to Harris’ miracle game-ending reception.

Coincidentally, it was Harris who introduced Pickett last spring as the Steelers’ first pick at the 2022 NFL Draft in Paradise, Nev.

Making a major difference in the Dec. 24 victory was Najee Harris, who ran for 53 yards and caught passes for 42 more on an icy turf.

Joking, Harris had referred to the young running back with same surname as “my cousin.”

Harris was the son of Cad Harris, an African-American soldier stationed in Italy during World War II, and Gina Parenti, his Italian war bride.

Harris and his wife, Dana Dokmanovich, have a son, Dok Harris. Both were present during the Dec. 24 tribute for a halftime ceremony with franchise owner Art Rooney II.