One of the best NFL cornerbacks of the 2010s is calling it quits after a phenomenal 12-year career.
Chris Harris Jr., an undrafted free agent out of Kansas who led the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 championship in the 2015 season, has decided to walk away two months before his 35th birthday.
Harris announced his decision to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette:
“I just waited a year and I stayed in shape, but I realized that everybody was pretty much moving on with the younger players, the younger wave. So I thought it would be great to just call it an end…
“I was able to accomplish pretty much everything. The only award I didn’t win was Defensive Player of the Year. Getting All-Decade was the top thing. I feel definitely blessed, especially coming in as undrafted. I pretty much had to fight through all my career and being able to overcome that, that’s one thing I’m definitely happy for.”
Harris signed with the Broncos in the summer of 2011 after going undrafted. Along with Von Miller, Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, TJ Ward and Emmanuel Sanders, Harris played a pivotal role in helping Denver return to the AFC’s elite in the first half of the 2010s decade.
The Broncos won five straight AFC West division crowns during Harris’ first five NFL seasons. They went to two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl 50 after shutting down MVP Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers’ prolific offense in a 24-10 victory.
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Harris was named to four Pro Bowls during his tenure with the Broncos, earning 2016 First-team All-Pro nods plus Second-team selections in 2014 and 2015. He was also named to the 2010s All-Decade Team.
He walks away with 22 career interceptions, 97 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, six sacks and four pick-sixes.
Broncos Don’t Win Super Bowl 50 Without Chris Harris Jr.
Von Miller was easily the MVP of the Denver Broncos during their Super Bowl 50 championship-winning season, but Harris’ production cannot be overlooked.
Harris and Talib were easily football’s top cornerback duo that year. The former had the difficult task of going up against Patriots superstar Julian Edelman in the 2015 AFC Championship Game, and the renowned postseason performer was essentially shut down that game.
Denver knew going into Super Bowl 50 that they had to find a way to limit Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen. Harris and the “No Fly Zone” limited Olsen to just four receptions for 41 yards and no touchdowns.
