N'Keal Harry facts for kids

N'Keal Harry (pronounced nih-KEEL; born December 17, 1997) is a professional American football player. He plays as a wide receiver, which means he catches passes from the quarterback. N'Keal was born in Canada and also has roots in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was recognized as one of the best players in his college conference twice. In 2019, he was chosen by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. After playing for the Patriots, he joined the Chicago Bears in 2022 and later the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. In late 2024, he also spent some time with the Seattle Seahawks.

Early Life and High School Football

N'Keal Harry was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When he was a baby, his family moved to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Later, his grandmother brought him to the Phoenix metropolitan area in the United States. This move was to give him more opportunities in life.

As a kid, N'Keal tried many sports, including soccer, basketball, and football. His grandmother hoped he would pick a sport that was less risky. However, she agreed to let him play football because he loved it. He became a star player at Chandler High School. Many experts thought he was one of the best wide receiver recruits in the country. In his junior year, he caught 13 touchdown passes.

College Football Career

N'Keal decided to stay close to home for college. He chose to play for Arizona State University, even though many other top schools wanted him. These schools included Texas A&M and USC.

Freshman Year (2016)

In his first game at Arizona State in 2016, N'Keal made history. He was only the ninth true freshman to start a season opener for the team. During his freshman year, he caught 58 passes for 659 yards and scored five touchdowns. He also ran for 69 yards and even completed a 46-yard pass. Because of his great performance, he was named a Freshman All-American by several sports groups.

Sophomore and Junior Years (2017-2018)

In his second year (2017), N'Keal continued to shine. He had 82 catches for 1,142 yards and 8 touchdowns. This earned him a spot on the First-team All-Pac-12 Conference team.

His junior year in 2018 started with a lot of excitement. He was chosen for the preseason All-American team. One of his most famous plays happened on October 27. He made an amazing one-handed catch that many called one of the greatest in football history. That catch, along with a punt return touchdown, helped his team win against the USC Trojans. The next week, he scored three touchdowns in a big upset win against the #15 Utah Utes. After the season, N'Keal decided to leave college early and enter the 2019 NFL draft.

College Statistics Overview

N'Keal Harry had a strong college career. Here is a summary of his receiving and rushing stats:

Professional Football Career

N'Keal Harry was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the 32nd player picked overall. He signed a four-year contract with the Patriots.

New England Patriots (2019-2021)

2019 Season

N'Keal started his first NFL season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. He was able to play starting in November 2019. On November 24, he caught his first career touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady. In total, he played in seven games as a rookie. He had 12 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

2020 Season

In 2020, N'Keal played in more games. He had a career-high 8 catches in a game against the Seattle Seahawks. He also scored his first touchdown of the year in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

2021 Season

Before the 2021 season, N'Keal asked to be traded from the Patriots. He suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve. He returned to play in October. The Patriots decided not to extend his contract after the 2022 season.

Chicago Bears (2022)

In July 2022, N'Keal was traded to the Chicago Bears. He was placed on injured reserve again with an ankle injury but was activated in October. He made his debut for the Bears against his former team, the Patriots.

Minnesota Vikings (2023-2024)

N'Keal signed with the Minnesota Vikings in August 2023. He was released and re-signed to their practice squad multiple times. He was signed to the active roster in October 2023. In January 2024, the Vikings signed him to a new contract. In June 2024, the Vikings announced that N'Keal would be changing his position from wide receiver to tight end. He was released in August 2024 and later re-signed to the practice squad before being released again in October 2024.

Seattle Seahawks (2024)

On November 11, 2024, N'Keal Harry signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad. He was released by the Seahawks in December 2024.

NFL Career Statistics Overview

Here is a summary of N'Keal Harry's statistics during his time in the NFL:

Regular Season

Postseason