Rodney Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rodney Harrison

Harrison in 2021
No. 37
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1972-12-15) December 15, 1972 (age 52) Markham, Illinois, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Illinois)
College:	Western Illinois
NFL Draft:	1994 / Round: 5 / Pick: 145
Career history
San Diego Chargers (1994) New England Patriots (2003)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXVIII, XXXIX) 2× First-team All-Pro (1998, 2003) Second-team All-Pro (2004) 2× Pro Bowl (1998, 2001) San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team New England Patriots Hall of Fame New England Patriots All-2000s Team New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 1,206 Interceptions: 34 Interception yards: 361 Sacks: 30.5 Forced fumbles: 15 Fumble recoveries: 9 Total touchdowns: 4
Player stats at PFR

Rodney Scott Harrison (born December 15, 1972) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. He played for the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots.

Harrison was picked in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL draft by the Chargers. He played there for nine years. Then, he joined the Patriots for six more seasons. After he stopped playing in 2009, he became a sports commentator for NBC's Football Night in America.

During his career, Harrison was chosen for two Pro Bowl games. He also earned first-team All-Pro honors twice. He holds a special record for defensive backs with the most sacks. He was also the first NFL player to get both 30 sacks and 30 interceptions. Harrison played in four Super Bowls and won two with the Patriots. He is a member of both the Chargers' and Patriots' 50th Anniversary Teams. In 2019, he was added to the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School Football

Rodney Harrison grew up in Chicago Heights, Illinois. He went to Marian Catholic High School. In 2006, his high school honored him by retiring his jersey number 37. It's interesting because he never actually wore that number in high school. He wore numbers 26, 11, and 3 during his time there. He finished high school in 1991.

College Football Career

Harrison played college football at Western Illinois University. He played there from 1991 to 1993. He holds the school record for the most tackles in a career, with 345. He also has the record for most tackles in a single game, with 28.

As a freshman, he was a second-team All-Gateway Football Conference player. In his second and third years, he was named a first-team All-Gateway pick. The Associated Press also recognized him as an All-American. He decided to leave college early to enter the NFL draft.

Professional Football Journey

Playing for the San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers drafted Rodney Harrison in 1994. He was the 145th player chosen overall. That same year, the Chargers made it to their only Super Bowl (XXIX) but lost.

Harrison became a starting player for the Chargers in 1996. He was selected for two Pro Bowls while with the Chargers, in 1998 and 2001. In 2000, he had his best year with the Chargers, making 127 tackles and six interceptions. In his final season with the Chargers in 2002, he played in 13 games and made 88 tackles.

Joining the New England Patriots

2003 Season Success

After the 2002 season, the Chargers released Harrison. Two weeks later, in March 2003, he signed a six-year contract with the New England Patriots. Before the 2003 season began, the Patriots named Harrison a defensive captain. This was a big honor for him in his first year with the team.

In the playoffs, Harrison made a huge impact. In a game against the Tennessee Titans, he intercepted a pass. This play led to a touchdown for the Patriots. The next week, in the AFC Championship game, he intercepted Peyton Manning and forced a fumble. Harrison then helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers, 32–29. He even played with a fractured arm late in the game. This was his first Super Bowl win. He was also named to the All-Pro team that year. He led all defensive backs with 140 tackles.

2004 Season and Another Super Bowl

The 2004 season was also very successful for Harrison. He helped the Patriots' defense become one of the best in the NFL. For the second year in a row, Harrison led all defensive backs with 138 tackles. He started all 16 regular season games, helping the team's defense stay strong.

In the playoffs, Harrison again made key plays. He intercepted Peyton Manning late in a game against the Indianapolis Colts. The next week, in the AFC Championship, Harrison intercepted a pass from Ben Roethlisberger. He ran it back 87 yards for a touchdown. This helped the Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Super Bowl XXXIX, Harrison had seven tackles, a sack, and two interceptions. His second interception, with only ten seconds left, sealed the Patriots' 24–21 victory. This win gave the Patriots their third championship in four years.

Later Years with the Patriots (2005–2008)

The 2005 season brought some injuries for Harrison. His season ended early in September when he hurt his left knee. He tore several ligaments and was placed on the injured reserve list.

Harrison in 2006

Harrison worked hard to recover. He returned to practice in August 2006. He started the first seven games of the 2006 season. However, he injured his right shoulder in November and missed six weeks. He returned but then injured his right knee in the final game of the season.

In Super Bowl XLII, which ended the 2007 season, Harrison was involved in a famous play. This was the "Helmet Catch" by David Tyree of the New York Giants. This play helped the Giants win 17–14. It stopped the Patriots from having a perfect season.

Harrison's 2008 season also ended early due to injury. In an October game, he tore a muscle in his right leg. He was then placed on injured reserve.

Retirement and Broadcasting Career

Harrison (right) along with colleagues Dan Patrick and Tony Dungy at an NFL game in Denver in September 2013

On June 3, 2009, Rodney Harrison announced he was retiring from football. He decided to become a sports analyst for NBC Sports' Football Night in America. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick praised Harrison. He called him one of the best players he had ever coached.

Playing Style and Reputation

Rodney Harrison was known for his very tough and aggressive playing style. He was sometimes called the "dirtiest player" in the NFL by other players and coaches. This was due to his hard hits and intense play. He was fined by the NFL multiple times for his hits. For example, he was suspended in 2002 for a helmet-to-helmet hit. He also famously hit quarterback Trent Green in a preseason game. This hit caused Green a season-ending injury.

Amazing Accomplishments and Records

Rodney Harrison achieved many impressive things during his career:

• In 1997, he became the first NFL player to score touchdowns in three different ways in one season: an interception return, a fumble return, and a kickoff return.
• He holds the record for the most sacks (30.5) by any defensive back in NFL history.
• He is the all-time leader in Super Bowl tackles, with 33.
• He had four interceptions in three playoff games during the 2004-05 playoffs.
• His seven playoff interceptions are a team record for the Patriots.
• He is one of only 12 players in NFL history to have at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career.
• On October 21, 2007, he became the first player to join the "30/30 Club." This means he had both 30 interceptions and 30 sacks.
• Fans voted Rodney Harrison as the 29th person to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
• He was named to the San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team and 40th Anniversary Team.
• He was also named to the New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Images for kids

• 

  Harrison in 2006

• 

  Harrison (right) with colleagues Dan Patrick and Tony Dungy in 2013