Chris Harris (football player)
Encyclopedia
For the Denver Broncos player of the same name, see Chris Harris (cornerback)
Chris Harris (born August 6, 1982) is an American football
safety for the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
. Harris, nicknamed "Hitman", was selected with the seventh pick of the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
out of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
by the Chicago Bears
.
Harris won the starting
role for the free safety position over Mike Green
early in the season.
In the 2006 preseason
, Harris made a statement to a fan, Bryan Lange, that if the Bears made the Super Bowl
he would give him a ticket. In January, his statement caused a minor controversy when the Bears did in fact qualify for Super Bowl XLI
. Lange stood outside of Bears team headquarters holding a sign saying "Chris Harris, you promised." Harris claimed that he was joking and would not be able to fulfill the request due to family ticket obligations. Ticket brokerage firm sitclose.com later gave Lange a ticket, quieting the controversy. Harris intercepted a pass from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in the first quarter of the game; however, the Bears would go on to lose the game 29-17.
on August 2, 2007 for a 2008
5th round draft pick. Harris started 15 games in 2007 with finishing with 101 tackles, and also setting a team record as he led the league with 8 forced fumbles.
In 2008, the Panthers rewarded Harris with a 4 year contract extension. He finished the 2008 season with 70 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.
pass as he picked off Vick in Chicagos endzone to help the Bears beat the Eagles 31-26. Following his performance during the 2010 season, Harris received his first All-Pro
-selection. On October 27, 2011, Harris was released by the Bears.
Chris Harris (cornerback)
For the Detroit Lions player of the same name, see Chris Harris Christopher Harris is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football for the University of Kansas...
Chris Harris (born August 6, 1982) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Harris, nicknamed "Hitman", was selected with the seventh pick of the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
out of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
First stint with Bears
As a rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
Harris won the starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
role for the free safety position over Mike Green
Mike Green (defensive back)
Michael Wayne Green is an American football safety and cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
early in the season.
In the 2006 preseason
2006 Chicago Bears season
The 2006 Chicago Bears season was their 87th regular season and 25th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 13-3 regular season record, the best in the NFC, improving on their previous year’s record of 11-5...
, Harris made a statement to a fan, Bryan Lange, that if the Bears made the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
he would give him a ticket. In January, his statement caused a minor controversy when the Bears did in fact qualify for Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
. Lange stood outside of Bears team headquarters holding a sign saying "Chris Harris, you promised." Harris claimed that he was joking and would not be able to fulfill the request due to family ticket obligations. Ticket brokerage firm sitclose.com later gave Lange a ticket, quieting the controversy. Harris intercepted a pass from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in the first quarter of the game; however, the Bears would go on to lose the game 29-17.
Carolina Panthers
Harris was traded to the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on August 2, 2007 for a 2008
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
5th round draft pick. Harris started 15 games in 2007 with finishing with 101 tackles, and also setting a team record as he led the league with 8 forced fumbles.
In 2008, the Panthers rewarded Harris with a 4 year contract extension. He finished the 2008 season with 70 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.
Second stint with Bears
On April 27, 2010, Harris was dealt back to the Bears in exchange for linebacker Jamar Williams. In his first season back in Chicago, Harris recorded 70 tackles and a career-high 5 interceptions that he returned for 69 yards. In week 12, he was the first player of the season to intercept a Michael VickMichael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
pass as he picked off Vick in Chicagos endzone to help the Bears beat the Eagles 31-26. Following his performance during the 2010 season, Harris received his first All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
-selection. On October 27, 2011, Harris was released by the Bears.