Chris Harris was honored during the Broncos’ practice on Saturday and will be a part of the in-game festivities on Sunday when Denver meets the Chargers.
Chris Harris Jr. reconsidered and opted to retire as a Bronco.
Harris, the undisputed best nickel defensive back in franchise history and one of its top corners overall, revealed in March that he was retiring after a 12-year NFL career, the first nine of which were spent with the Broncos.
At the time, Harris stated that he was not concerned about holding a news conference to officially announce his retirement as a Bronco.
But the team wanted to honor him, so Harris, his wife Leah, and their five daughters were invited to attend Saturday’s Broncos practice. He later signed a decree informing the NFL that he had retired from the franchise that provided him with a $2,000 signing bonus as an undrafted rookie during the 2011 lockout season.
“We had a conversation, my wife and I and the Broncos, about retiring a Bronco, and everything fell into place,” Harris told 9NEWS on Saturday. “I thought that would be an excellent way to end the chapter. We started terrific, and we finished amazing.”
Harris will be honored on the field Sunday when the Broncos face the Los Angeles Chargers, his team for two years after leaving Denver as a free agent, at Empower Field in Mile High.
During his nine seasons with the Broncos, Harris was named to four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He played on two AFC Championship teams and was a vital member of the Broncos’ ‘No Fly Zone’ defense in 2015, which helped them win Super Bowl 50. Harris was eventually named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team as a cornerback in the 2010s, mostly for his performance as a slot corner.
Harris and Von Miller were the only two Broncos selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team. While Miller is a lock to be inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, Harris will also be considered for election.
“I think the All-Decade is a pretty good selling point right there,” Harris told 9NEWS when he announced his retirement this spring.
Harris earned the moniker “Strap” for his close coverage of both quick slot receivers and huge tight ends. He was tenacious, tough, quick, and instinctive. He was also an effective tackler in the run game. In other words, clubs want all of these characteristics in their nickel corners.
Harris was the perfect underdog story. He was a starting freshman cornerback at Kansas, while Aqib Talib, an All-American junior, played corner on the opposite side. The Jayhawks were 12-1 that season and were ranked second in the USA before losing a close Big 12 Championship Game to Missouri.
However, new head coach Turner Gill moved Harris to safety for his senior year. Harris, who stood 5-foot-10 and weighed 198 pounds, was considered a little short by NFL safety standards and went undrafted. His agent, Fredrick Lyles, sought to connect him with the Broncos as an undrafted cornerback.
According to the report, following the 2011 draft, then-Broncos scout Dave Ziegler entered head coach John Fox’s office and asked which of two undrafted corners he wanted to sign: the incredibly fast corner or the corner who was clever but not quite as fast. Fox stated that he preferred the wise one.
Harris was a Bronco.
There was no offseason program during that lock out season of 2011 but Harris made the season-opening, 53-man roster as a relentlessly competitive rookie special teamer and part-time corner.
In 2012 – Peyton Manning’s first season with the Broncos – Denver started 2-3 on the season and trailed its AFC West-rival San Diego Chargers, 24-0 at halftime, in game 6. Harris, subbing for starter Tracy Porter who was out because of seizure complications, clinched a 35-24 comeback win with a 46-yard pick six off Philip Rivers.
“I had to scratch and claw for everything my whole life,” Harris said. “High school, I only had one offer. College, I didn’t have anyone pushing for me and I went undrafted. Then I got to the league and had to fight it out every day.”
Harris and his wife Leah live in the Dallas area with their daughters Aria, Avianna, Laliyah, Amaris and Amiyah.
“It was great to come back and see the guys,” Harris said. “Walked around the facility, talked to some of my old teammates. Talked to the secondary guys. It was just great seeing everybody again.”
