David Harris

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Harris's path to professional stardom was forged through resilience. At Michigan, he nearly saw his career end before it began due to a knee injury that required nearly two years for full recovery. He only played sparingly as a redshirt freshman and sophomore before emerging as a starter in his junior year. His breakout came when he led the Wolverines with 88 tackles in 2005 and 103 tackles as a senior. In 2006, he earned All-Big Ten honors, shared team MVP duties with Mike Hart, and became a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, and Rivals.com. This collegiate dominance translated immediately to the NFL, where he was named Defensive Rookie of the Month in November 2007 after recording 127 tackles and 5 sacks despite starting only nine games.

In Their Own Story

The 2009 season marked a defining chapter for Harris and the Jets. Opening against the Houston Texans, Harris recorded 11 tackles, one sack, and a deflected pass in a defensive shutout, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. In week three against the Tennessee Titans, he intercepted Kerry Collins and followed up by sacking him on first down during the next series. Later that year, in week eleven against division rivals, he made 13 tackles and served as the defensive play-caller. Harris finished the season with 127 tackles, five and a half sacks, two interceptions, and a Second-team All-Pro selection. The Jets clinched a wild card spot with a 9–7 record and reached the AFC Championship for the first time since 1998, though they ultimately fell to the Indianapolis Colts. His leadership was evident as he became the leading tackler on football's number one defense.

Reader's Guide

Fans remember Harris for his versatility and clutch performances. On January 16, 2011, he recorded his first career postseason interception, returning it 58 yards against the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round to help secure a 28–21 victory. He played in two consecutive AFC Championship games with the Jets before signing with the New England Patriots on June 21, 2017, where he appeared in Super Bowl LII. His tenure with the Jets lasted ten seasons until his release on June 6, 2017. Throughout his career, Harris was recognized as a key defensive anchor, earning two AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards (Week 1, 2009; Week 9, 2011) and the Ed Block Courage Award in 2009. He announced his retirement on February 23, 2018, after 11 seasons in the league.

Did You Know?

• Harris was nicknamed 'The Hitman' by New York Jets website host Eric Allen.
• He forced a fumble and recorded 17 tackles in his first NFL start on October 28, 2007, against the Buffalo Bills.
• In 2006, Harris served as co-MVP of the Michigan football team alongside Mike Hart.
• Harris was a semifinalist for the 2006 Dick Butkus Award during his college career.