Erik Harris

Erik Harris's Biography

Erik Harris, born on April 2, 1990, is a well-known American professional football safety, who is currently a free agent. Born in Los Angeles, California, his journey in life took him through Baltimore, Pennsylvania and then back to California in pursuit of his dreams. A versatile player, Harris has carved out a successful career, proving adept at several positions such as free and strong safety, halfback (distinct from the American football halfback), cornerback, weakside linebacker and strong-side linebacker.

When he was only two months old, Harris’ parents separated which prompted him, together with his mother, to relocate to Baltimore. The family later moved to Pennsylvania when Harris was in fifth grade. While there, Harris attended New Oxford High School, where his passion for football first began to ignite.

Upon graduating from high school, Harris attended California University of Pennsylvania, playing safety for the Division II California Vulcans football team. His undeniable talent on the field began to shine, marking him as a promising future athlete. During his four seasons in college, Harris impressed many with his defensive skills, racking up an impressive 231 tackles.

His dedication did not go unnoticed, and he was honored as a first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) selection in 2010. His strong performance persisted into the following year, earning him yet another accolade as a second-team All-PSAC Selection in 2011.

Despite being rated the 90th best strong safety in the 2012 NFL draft by NFLDraftScout.com, Harris went undrafted. This minor setback, however, was short-lived. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed him on April 11, 2013. During his tenure with the Tiger-Cats, Harris played 45 games and proved his skills once again, advancing on both offensive and defensive fronts.

After a recommendation by Delvin Breaux, a former teammate in Hamilton, Harris’ career took a promising turn. On February 2, 2016, he was contracted by the New Orleans Saints under a three-year, $1.62 million deal. Harris took up the role of a safety and later suffered a torn ACL during practice which sidelined him for a while.

Harris played four games as a rookie for the Saints before being waived. On September 5, 2017, he joined the Oakland Raiders under a one-year, $630,000 contract. Initially, he was signed to provide depth due to a rookie teammate’s injury, but steadily earned his place as the primary backup free safety.

In 2018, Harris enjoyed a strong season with the Raiders under Coach Jon Gruden. That year, Harris scored his first career interception during a loss against the Bengals. He ended the season with 49 combined tackles (36 solo), seven pass deflections, and two interceptions in 16 games. On March 8, 2019, Harris signed another deal with the Raiders spanning two years, worth $5 million.

Following an injury to teammate Johnathan Abram, Harris was promoted to starting free safety on March 19, 2021. He signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on March 19, 2021 and was touted as the Falcons’ starting free safety. However, an injury in Week 14 forced an early end to his season.

In 2022, he re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract and then later joined the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers. He signed a reserve/future contract on February 13, 2024, but eventually got released later in the year on August 7.

Off the field, Harris is a dedicated family man. He and his wife, Theresa, whom he met while attending New Oxford High School, have four children: Ellis, Esme, and twins Isaiah and Elijah. Each chapter of Harris’ journey so far tells a story of resilience and commitment, marking him as a remarkable figure in the football world.