Percy Harvin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Percy Harvin

Harvin with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014
No. 12, 11, 16, 18
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1988-05-28) May 28, 1988 (age 37) Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:	Landstown (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
College:	Florida (2006–2008)
NFL Draft:	2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (2009–2012) Seattle Seahawks (2013–2014) New York Jets (2014) Buffalo Bills (2015–2016)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLVIII) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2009) Pro Bowl (2009) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2009) Minnesota Vikings All-Mall of America Field Team 2× BCS national champion (2006, 2008) 2× First-team All-American (2007, 2008) 2× First-team All-SEC (2007, 2008) SEC Freshman of the Year (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Receiving yards: 4,026 Receiving touchdowns: 22 Rushing yards: 927 Rushing touchdowns: 5 Return yards: 4,127
Player stats at PFR

William Percival Harvin III (born May 28, 1988), known as Percy Harvin, is a former professional football player. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Harvin was known for his amazing speed and ability to make big plays.

He played college football for the Florida Gators. The Gators won the BCS National Championship in 2006 and 2008 with Harvin on the team. He was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. Harvin also played for the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills.

In 2009, he was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks in 2013. Before college, he played football for Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, where his team won a state championship in 2004.

Early Life and Athletic Beginnings

Percy Harvin was born in Chesapeake, Virginia. He lived with his mother, Linda, and older sister, Lintera. His mother ran a daycare, and Percy helped with the children.

His mother and sister were both track athletes. Percy showed his athletic talent early on. At age six, he played flag football. When he was 13, he helped his Pop Warner football team win a national championship.

High School Football and Track

At Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, Harvin was incredibly fast. He could run 40 yards in 4.32 seconds as a freshman. In 2004, he led the Landstown Eagles football team to a perfect 14–0 season. They won the state championship.

In that championship game, Harvin gained 476 all-purpose yards. He scored five touchdowns in their 47–20 victory. In 2005, Landstown finished 13–1, but lost the state championship game. Harvin also played basketball and helped his team reach the state championship game in 2005.

After high school, Harvin was considered one of the best young football players in the country. He scored 77 career touchdowns in high school. He also won five gold medals at the state track meet as a junior. On December 19, 2005, Harvin decided to attend the University of Florida.

Track and Field Achievements

Harvin was also a star in track and field. In 2000, at age 12, he was part of a national champion relay team. At the 2005 Virginia Class AAA state meet, he won five state titles. This was the first time an athlete had done this in 69 years.

He won the 100 meters (10.69 seconds), 200 meters (21.59 seconds), long jump (7.15 meters), and triple jump (14.50 meters). His best personal times were 10.43 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.19 seconds in the 200 meters. He also had a long jump of 7.40 meters.

College Football Career

Percy Harvin played for the University of Florida from 2006 to 2008. He made a huge impact right away. He was a key player in the Gators' national championship wins in 2006 and 2008.

Freshman Year: 2006 Season

Harvin started playing for the Florida Gators on September 2, 2006. He played as both a running back and a wide receiver. In his second game, he caught a 58-yard touchdown pass.

Even with some injuries, Harvin played well. In the 2006 SEC Championship Game, he caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 105 yards and a touchdown. He was named the game's MVP. He finished his freshman year by helping the Gators win the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. He was named the SEC College Freshman of the Year.

Harvin standing on the sidelines while playing for the Gators

Sophomore Year: 2007 Season

In 2007, Harvin became a starting receiver for the Gators. He had many great games, including three in a row with over 100 receiving yards. In one game against Vanderbilt, he had 110 receiving yards and 113 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

He finished the season with 858 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He also had 764 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He became the first Florida player to have over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in his college career.

Junior Year: 2008 Season

Before his junior season, Harvin had surgery on his right heel. This helped him get stronger. He gained weight and improved his strength. The coaches even changed his official position to running back, though he still played a lot as a receiver.

Harvin continued to be a star player. He suffered an ankle injury late in the season. Despite this, he played in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma. He had 122 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus 49 receiving yards, helping Florida win another national title.

Harvin decided to enter the NFL draft after his junior year. He ended his college career with 1,929 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 1,852 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. His 32 career touchdowns are the most by a Florida wide receiver.

Professional NFL Career

Percy Harvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2009. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. He signed a five-year contract with the Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings: 2009-2012

Harvin at the 2009 Vikings training camp

Harvin quickly made an impact with the Vikings. In his first NFL game, he caught a touchdown pass. On September 27, 2009, he returned a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. He became the second youngest player to do this in NFL history.

He finished his first season with 60 catches and eight touchdowns. Two of his touchdowns were on kickoff returns. He was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner.

Harvin in 2010

In 2010, Harvin continued to be a strong player. He had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the season with 71 catches for 868 yards and five receiving touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown and another kickoff return touchdown.

In 2011, Harvin set a Vikings record with his fourth career kickoff return touchdown. He returned a kickoff 103 yards in the season opener. He led the Vikings with 87 catches that season and played in all 16 games.

The 2012 season saw Harvin continue to perform well. He had three games with over 100 receiving yards in the first six weeks. However, his season ended early due to an ankle injury.

Seattle Seahawks: 2013-2014

Harvin during the 2014 preseason

In March 2013, Harvin was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. He signed a new six-year contract with them. He chose to wear number 11. This trade reunited him with former teammates and coaches.

Harvin had hip surgery in August 2013. He made his Seahawks debut in November against his old team, the Vikings. He had one catch for 17 yards and a 58-yard kick return.

In Super Bowl XLVIII, Harvin had a huge play. He returned the opening kickoff of the second half 87 yards for a touchdown. This helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl title.

New York Jets: 2014

Harvin was traded to the New York Jets in October 2014. He wore number 16 for the Jets. In his time there, he had 29 catches for 350 yards and one touchdown. He also had 110 rushing yards and 495 kickoff return yards. He was released by the Jets in March 2015.

Buffalo Bills: 2015-2016

In March 2015, Harvin signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. His season ended early due to injury. He finished with 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown.

On April 15, 2016, Harvin announced he was retiring from the NFL. However, he came out of retirement on November 1, 2016, to rejoin the Bills. He played in two games before severe migraine headaches ended his season. On March 14, 2017, Harvin announced his retirement from the NFL for the second time.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

NFL Records and Vikings Records

• Longest non-scoring play: 104 yards (November 27, 2011, vs Atlanta Falcons)
• Most career kickoff return touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings (5) (Tied with Cordarrelle Patterson)
• Most kickoff return touchdowns in a single season for the Minnesota Vikings: 2 (2009) (Tied with Cordarrelle Patterson and Kene Nwangwu)

Awards and Honors

• Pop Warner Football national championship (2001)
• SEC Freshman of the Year (2006)
• SEC Championship Game Most Valuable Player (2006)
• BCS National Championship (2006, 2008)
• First-team All-American (2007, 2008)
• Pro Bowl kick returner (2010)
• Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year Award (2009)
• Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year (2009)
• Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year (2009)

See also

• List of Florida Gators football All-Americans
• List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft
• List of Minnesota Vikings first-round draft picks