N'Keal Harry

BIOGRAPHY

Born on December 17, 1997, N’Keal Harry is a professional football tight end, currently playing for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he was initially raised in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines before his grandmother relocated him to Phoenix, Arizona in the United States with the blessing of his mother. This location change primarily aimed to help Harry avail more opportunities.

Growing up in Phoenix, Harry engaged in numerous sports like soccer, football, and basketball, but his inclination towards football eventually became apparent. Though his grandmother initially wished for him to engage in less dangerous sports, she eventually accepted his decision to pursue football. Harry’s high school transition from Tempe’s Marcos de Niza High School to Chandler High School in Arizona saw him gaining widespread recognition as a top wide receiver recruit. His junior year’s distinctive performance where he accomplished 13 touchdown passes on 30 catches for 657 yards, garnered him further attention.

Keen to remain in his home state, Harry chose to commit to Arizona State University, declining offers from several top-tier collegiate football programs. He had an exceptional start to his college football career, becoming one of only nine true freshmen to play in a season opener for Arizona State. Harry’s athletic prowess during his freshman season allowed him to post impressive results – 58 catches for 659 yards, five touchdowns, an additional 69 yards run, and a successful 46-yard pass, earning him the Freshman All-American honor.

Harry continued to excel throughout his college years, setting new records and earning significant accolades. His Junior year solidified his reputation as one of the top players for Arizona State Sun Devils, with performances such as a remarkable one-handed catch and punt return touchdown against the USC Trojans being particularly memorable. Following his grand success, he decided to forgo his senior year at Arizona State and take the plunge into NFL in 2019.

Harry was drafted as the 32nd pick by the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL Draft, making him the first wide receiver selected by the Patriots in the first round since 1996. With his career seeming to be taking off, Harry experienced some minor derailments due to injuries, which limited his play time to 7 games during his rookie season, although it didn’t diminish his contribution to his team’s success.

In his second NFL season, Harry’s performance began to stabilize, posting career highs in various statistics. Despite minor progress, Harry desired a change in setting and requested a trade, which was successfully executed in 2022 when he moved to the Chicago Bears. However, having faced another injury setback leading him to be inactive for a few weeks, he was eventually traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. Despite a flurry of signings and releases, Harry’s commitment to the sport and his skill set earned him a reserve/future contract with the Vikings in January 2024 where he reinvented himself as a tight end. This encompasses N’Keal Harry’s journey to his present-day career in the NFL as of 2024.