Walt Harris (cornerback)

Walt Harris

Walt Harris during 49ers training camp in 2007.
No. 27, 21
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth:	August 10, 1974
Place of birth:	LaGrange, Georgia
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:	LaGrange (GA)
College:	Mississippi State
NFL draft:	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13
Career history
Chicago Bears (1996–2001) Indianapolis Colts (2002–2003) Washington Redskins (2004–2005) San Francisco 49ers (2006–2009) Baltimore Ravens (2010)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2006) All-Pro (2006) San Francisco 49ers Team MVP (2006) NFC interception co-leader (2006) All-Rookie (1996) 2× First-team All-SEC (1994, 1995)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 755 Interceptions: 35 Passes Defended: 102 Player stats at NFL.com

Walter Lee "Walt" Harris (born August 10, 1974) is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. He played college football for Mississippi State University and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round (13th overall) in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears for six years and was then signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002. He then signed with Washington Redskins in 2004. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 where he earned his 1st trip to the Pro Bowl.

Harris signed with the 49ers in 2006, where he led the team with a career-high eight interceptions.

He was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November 2006. Harris was also selected to represent the National Football Conference (NFC) in the 2007 Pro Bowl, in place of injured Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard.

College career

Harris emerged as starter at Mississippi State University as a freshman at cornerback/free safety and played in ten games, including starts in the final three games. As a sophomore, he earned All-SEC (second-team) honors and started every game. That season, he tied the school seasonal record with six interceptions. Harris was an Associated Press and Coaches First-team All-SEC while starting every game at cornerback as junior. That season, he was ranked third in SEC and fifth in nation with six interceptions, led the team with 12 passes defensed, and recovered two fumbles and blocked two kicks. As a senior, he had four interceptions and eight passes defensed, played in the Senior Bowl, and was selected First-team All-SEC. Harris earned All-SEC honors in the final three seasons at Mississippi State. As a four-year letterman, he shares the Mississippi State career interception record with Johnthan Banks at 16.

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Harris was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round (13th overall) in the 1996 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Harris made 13 starts and recorded a career high 113 tackles along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The following season, he started in all 16 games for the first time in his career and finished the season with 95 tackles and five interceptions. By the time the 1998 season started, Harris was a firmly established member of the team and a consistent starter. From the 1998 season until the end of the 2000 season, he started every game. The 1998 season finished with 85 tackles and four interceptions. In 1999, his fourth for the Bears, Harris made 71 tackles and one interception. The 2000 season saw Harris make 58 tackles and two interceptions. In 2001, his last for the Chicago Bears, Harris made 50 tackles and one interception.

Indianapolis Colts

Harris was signed by the Indianapolis Colts on March 18, 2002 as an unrestricted free agent. In his first season with the Colts he started all 15 games and made 43 tackles and two interceptions. In his final year for the Colts, Harris made 55 tackles.

Washington Redskins

Harris was signed by the Washington Redskins as a free agent on March 18, 2004. In his first season with the Redskins, he played in 16 games recording 21 tackles and two interceptions. In 2005, his final year for the Redskins Harris finished the season with 57 tackles and one interception.

San Francisco 49ers

Harris was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent on March 15, 2006. In his debut season with the 49ers, he made 60 tackles, one sack, a career high eight interceptions, and a 42-yard interception for a touchdown. That earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

In the 2008 season, he recorded 49 tackles, one sack, and three interceptions (as of December 7, 2008).^[1] Harris missed the entire 2009 football season after tearing his ACL in 49er organized team activities (OTAs).

NFL stats

Year	Team	Games	Combined Tackles	Tackles	Assisted TAckles	Sacks	Forced Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	Fumble Return Yards	Interceptions	Interception Return Yards	Yards per Interception Return	Longest Interception Return	Interceptions Returned for Touchdown	Passes Defended
1996	CHI	15	95	81	14	0.0	3	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	9
1997	CHI	16	80	72	8	0.0	4	1	0	5	30	6	12	0	16
1998	CHI	14	68	63	5	0.0	1	1	0	4	41	10	26	1	16
1999	CHI	15	69	60	9	1.0	0	1	0	1	-1	-1	-1	0	13
2000	CHI	12	40	31	9	0.0	1	0	0	2	35	18	35	1	13
2001	CHI	15	50	48	2	0.0	1	2	0	1	45	45	39	1	9
2002	IND	15	43	34	9	0.0	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	17
2003	IND	16	54	35	19	0.0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	12
2004	WSH	16	17	15	2	0.0	1	0	0	2	31	16	31	0	5
2005	WSH	13	57	49	8	0.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	10
2006	SF	15	63	52	11	1.0	4	2	0	8	84	11	42	1	20
2007	SF	15	58	47	11	0.0	1	0	0	4	42	11	23	0	13
2008	SF	16	54	44	10	1.0	0	0	0	3	25	8	24	0	13
Career		193	748	631	117	3.0	18	12	0	35	332	9	42	4	166

^[2]

Personal

Harris attended LaGrange High School and was All-America honorable mention by USA Today. His team compiled a 34-6 record in his final three years. He also was a track hurdler. He teamed with Thomas Smith to organize ticket donation program called "Corner to Corner" in first season with the Bears that provides tickets for each home game to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago. The program included an on-field visit before each game and visits by Harris and Smith to clubs throughout the season. He partnered with fellow members of Bears secondary and Meals on Wheels in 2000 to "Intercept Hunger" with meal donations being made based on participating players’ performances each game. Harris and his wife, Trina, have four children: Courtney, London, Summer and Brandon.

References

1. {http://www.nfl.com/players/waltharris/profile?id=HAR550409} Stats courtesy of NFL.com
2. "Walt Harris Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

External links

• San Francisco 49ers bio (covers up to 2008 season) at the Wayback Machine (archived June 11, 2009)
• Walt Harris at Pro-Football-Reference.com