Pittsburgh street named after W.Va., Brashear football standout Major Harris

The irony of having a Pittsburgh street named after a West Virginia Mountaineer football star was not lost on those who showed up for a special ceremony Friday in the Hill District.

But everyone seemed to be in agreement that the honor bestowed on former Brashear High School quarterback Major Harris, who grew up in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, was no less deserved no matter where he played his college football.

On a sunny mid-July afternoon, on the street where he grew up, a maroon sign with white letters reading “Major Harris Way” was unveiled at the corner of Elmore Street and Bentley Drive. There were cheers from 100 or so family, friends and city officials, including Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

When he was asked by a reporter how great it was for a West Virginia player to have something like this happen in the middle of Pittsburgh, Harris laughed and remained as humble as ever.

“I don’t know what to say about that,” he said. “I just want to thank the team, everybody that played a part in this.”

Harris had an interest in playing at Pitt, but West Virginia was where he was given the chance to play quarterback, the position he excelled at in High School.

Among his exploits at Brashear, Harris threw a 79-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game to beat Indiana High School.

A street named Major Harris Way was unveiled Friday in Pittsburgh. It was named for the Hill District native, Brashear graduate and WVU All-American quarterback. pic.twitter.com/YeEPVUbrhl

— Paul Guggenheimer (@PGuggenheimer) July 15, 2022

Darelle Porter, a teammate of Harris’ who played wide receiver at Brashear, was at the ceremony and remembered Harris as a great teammate and leader.

“He was a jokester,” Porter said. “No matter what the situation was, he was loose. He kept us loose, and we just executed. He was one of the best athletes to ever come out of this city. He played football, basketball, baseball, you name it. He’s a tremendous guy, plus he’s humble.”

No less than the legendary former voice of the Steelers, Jack Fleming, who also called play-by-play for West Virginia games, nicknamed Harris “The Brashear Bullet.”

Harris finished his college career as one of two quarterbacks in NCAA Division I history to pass for more than 5,000 yards and rush for more than 2,000.

As a sophomore in 1988, Harris led WVU to its first undefeated season and was named ECAC Player of the Year. In 1989, he was an All-American as well as being named conference player of the year and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

An amazing honor for one of our most Distinguished Alums. We’d love to see everyone there pic.twitter.com/Tqf5QafPyy

— Brashear Football (@Brashear_Fball) July 15, 2022

Gainey said Harris’ achievements could be credited to his Hill District roots.

“I’m not surprised that Major Harris was born right here,” Gainey said. “I’m not surprised that he honed his skills on these streets right here. The stories of Major Harris have to be told.”

After his street sign was unveiled, Harris said he hoped it might inspire other young athletes growing up in the Hill District.

“Anytime you can see somebody get a street named after them, you can feel like, man, I can get that done,” said Harris. “I think that’s the biggest thing people can take away from today.”

Harris left WVU before his senior season for a pro football career that didn’t pan out as he had hoped. But in 2009 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Mountaineers eventually retired his uniform number.

Harris said he was proud to have a street where he grew up named after him.

“It’s something you don’t expect,” he said. “Even going to college, playing on TV and different things like that, when you look back on it you can appreciate it more. Now when you get older and something like this happens, you have to take it as it comes.”