David Harris (American football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Harris

Harris with the New York Jets in 2011
No. 52, 45
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1984-01-21) January 21, 1984 (age 42) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:	Ottawa Hills (Grand Rapids)
College:	Michigan
NFL Draft:	2007 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47
Career history
New York Jets (2007–2016) New England Patriots (2017)
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pro (2009) PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2007) Second-team All-American (2006) First-team All-Big Ten (2006) NFL record Most solo tackles in a game (20)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 1,110 Sacks: 37.0 Forced fumbles: 11 Fumble recoveries: 4 Interceptions: 6 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

David Charles Harris, born on January 21, 1984, is a former professional football player. He was a talented linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). David played college football for the Michigan Wolverines before being chosen by the New York Jets in the 2007 NFL draft.

David Harris's Early Life and High School Football

David Harris grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He went to Ottawa Hills High School. There, he was a star player in high school football. As a linebacker, he set a school record with 158 tackles when he was a junior.

He also earned special honors from the Detroit Free Press as a senior. Besides playing defense, he also helped his team as a fullback. David was also good at track and field. His mix of size and speed made him one of the best young players in his state.

David Harris's College Football Journey

David Harris earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Michigan. He joined the Michigan Wolverines football team. However, his first year was tough. He had a knee injury that almost stopped his career.

It took almost two years for David to fully get better. He played only a little bit during his first two years. But by his junior year, David became a full-time starter. He started to show how good he could be.

In 2005, he led the Wolverines with 88 tackles. The next year, as a senior, he made 103 tackles. In 2006, he received All-Big Ten Conference honors. He was also named co-MVP for the Wolverines with Mike Hart. He was even chosen as a second-team All-America player by major sports groups.

College Awards and Honors

• 2006 Dick Butkus Award semifinalist
• 2006 All-Big Ten Conference First-team (coaches) and Second-team (media)
• 2006 Michigan football team co-MVP with Mike Hart
• 2005 & 2006 Roger Zatkoff Award

David Harris's Professional NFL Career

Before the 2007 NFL draft, experts thought David Harris would be picked in the second to fourth round. He showed off his skills at the NFL Combine.

Playing for the New York Jets

The New York Jets picked David Harris in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. He was the 47th player chosen overall. The Jets traded some of their other draft picks to get him.

In July 2007, David signed a four-year contract with the Jets. He worked hard in training camp to earn a starting spot. At first, he was a backup inside linebacker.

Rookie Season: 2007

David got his first chance to start in October 2007. He played against the Buffalo Bills and made 17 tackles and one sack. He started because another player, Jonathan Vilma, was injured. The next week, he made an amazing 24 tackles against the Washington Redskins.

For his great play, David was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for November 2007. Even though he only started 9 games, he finished his rookie season with 127 tackles and 5 sacks. He earned many honors for new players.

Becoming a Starter: 2008–2009

David Harris became the main starting inside linebacker for the 2008 NFL season. An injury limited him to 11 games, but he still made 87 tackles.

In 2009, David had an amazing season. In the first game against the Houston Texans, he had 11 tackles and a sack. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Later, he intercepted a pass and sacked the quarterback in another game. He also made 17 tackles against the Buffalo Bills.

David ended the 2009 season as the leading tackler for the Jets, who had the best defense in football. He made 127 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He was also named second-team All-Pro. The Jets made it to the AFC Championship game that year.

Continuing Success: 2010–2016

In 2010, David made his first career playoff interception against the New England Patriots. This helped the Jets win and reach their second straight AFC Championship game.

From 2011 to 2016, David continued to be a key player for the Jets.

• In 2011, he had 86 tackles, 5 sacks, and 4 interceptions. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week again.
• In 2012, he made 123 tackles and 3 sacks.
• In 2013, he finished with 124 tackles.
• In 2014, he had 123 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
• In 2015, the Jets signed him to a new contract. He made 108 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
• In 2016, his last season with the Jets, he had 95 tackles.

After 10 seasons, the Jets surprisingly released David Harris in June 2017.

Playing for the New England Patriots

In June 2017, David Harris signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots. He played in Super Bowl LII with the Patriots. However, his team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in a close game.

Retirement from Football

On February 23, 2018, David Harris announced that he was retiring from the NFL. He played for 11 seasons in total.

Career Achievements and Highlights

• Second-team All-Pro selection (2009)
• 2× AFC Defensive Player of the Week (2009, 2011)
• NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (November 2007)
• Ed Block Courage Award (2009)
• PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2007)

David Harris's NFL Career Statistics

David Harris's Personal Life

David Harris lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was given the nickname The Hitman by Eric Allen, who hosted the New York Jets website.