David Harris (American football) facts for kids
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Harris with the New York Jets in 2011
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | January 21, 1984 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
David Charles Harris (born January 21, 1984) is a former American football player. He was a talented linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). David played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. The New York Jets picked him in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played for 11 seasons in the NFL.
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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 on the football team.
As a junior, he set a school record with 158 tackles. Tackles are when a defensive player stops the player with the ball. In his senior year, he was named an all-state player. This means he was one of the best players in the whole state. He also played as a fullback on offense.
David was also good at track and field. His mix of size and speed made him a top football prospect.
College Career at Michigan
David earned a sports scholarship to the University of Michigan. He joined the Michigan Wolverines football team. However, he had a knee injury as a freshman. This meant he had to redshirt. To redshirt means a player practices with the team but doesn't play in games. This helps them get stronger or recover from injury.
It took almost two years for David to fully recover. He played only a little in his first two years. By his junior year, David became a full-time starter. He led the Wolverines with 88 tackles in 2005. In 2006, he had 103 tackles.
In 2006, he received many honors. He was named to the All-Big Ten Conference team. He was also a co-MVP for his team. The Associated Press and Sports Illustrated named him a second-team All-America player.
Professional Football Career
David Harris was chosen by the New York Jets in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was the 47th player picked overall. The Jets traded some of their other draft picks to get him.
New York Jets (2007–2016)
David signed a four-year contract with the Jets in July 2007. He worked hard in training camp. He competed for a starting spot as a linebacker.
Rookie Season (2007)
David started his first NFL game in October 2007. He made 17 tackles and one sack. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He had an amazing 24 tackles in his next game! For his great play, he was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for November 2007.
In his first season, David had 127 tackles and 5 sacks. This was impressive, as he only started 9 games.
Becoming a Star (2008–2010)
In 2008, David became a full-time starter. An injury limited him to 11 games, but he still had 87 tackles.
The 2009 season was a big one for David. He had 11 tackles and a sack in the first game. He even won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He finished the season as the leading tackler for the Jets. He had 127 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He was also named second-team All-Pro. This means he was one of the best linebackers in the league.
In 2010, the Jets made it to the AFC Championship game again. David had his first career playoff interception against Tom Brady. This was a big moment in the game.
Later Years with the Jets (2011–2016)
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.
From 2012 to 2014, he consistently had over 120 tackles each season. He also added more sacks and forced fumbles. A forced fumble is when a defensive player hits the ball carrier and makes them drop the ball.
In 2015, the Jets signed David to a new contract. He continued to play well, making 108 tackles and 4.5 sacks. After 10 seasons, the Jets released David in June 2017. This was a surprising move for many fans.
New England Patriots (2017)
After leaving the Jets, David signed with the New England Patriots. He played in Super Bowl LII with the Patriots. However, his team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Retirement
On February 23, 2018, David Harris announced he was retiring from the NFL. He played for 11 seasons.
Career Awards and Highlights
David Harris had a great career. Here are some of his achievements:
- 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)
Personal Life
David Harris lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During his time with the New York Jets, he was given the nickname The Hitman.
