Ronnie Harrison Jr.

Ronnie Harrison Jr.'s Biography

Ronnie Harrison Jr., born on April 18, 1997, is currently a professional football linebacker playing for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). His journey through the world of football, starting from a young age, showcases his resolute determination, talent, and love for the game.

Harrison initially played both as a quarterback and safety during his tenure at Florida State University School. During his senior year, he demonstrated an apparent knack for excellence, recording 39 defensive tackles, and proving his invaluable offensive skills with 2,076 passing yards that culminated in 13 touchdowns. Additionally, he gained 1,015 rushing yards, resulting in 16 rushing touchdowns.

Taking his talent to the University of Alabama, Harrison began his stint there as a true freshman in 2015, where he served as a backup, earning 17 tackles, two interceptions, and one sack. The following year, he took the reins as the starter, an opportunity he maximized with stellar performance – he recorded 86 tackles, two interceptions, and earned one touchdown.

In 2018, Harrison announced that he would relinquish his remaining college eligibility to join the 2018 NFL draft pool, a significant leap forward in his career trajectory. His participation in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis had him perform bare-bones – only executing the broad jump and vertical jump. At Alabama’s pro day, he took on the 40-yard dash, the 20-yard dash, and the 10-yard dash. His size and athleticism intrigued several teams, including the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Philadelphia Eagles. Based on his combined skill set and impressive display, Harrison was earmarked as potentially a second-round pick.

The Jacksonville Jaguars recognized his potential and selected Harrison in the third round as the 93rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, making him the seventh safety drafted that year. The team finalized the deal with a four-year contract worth $3.38 million, inclusive of a signing bonus of $803,032.

During his rookie season, he started as the backup safety behind Barry Church but was named the starter by week 13, a position solidified for the rest of the season upon Church’s release. However, Harrison’s debut season was cut short due to a knee injury, rendering him inactive and marking his entry into the injured reserve list.

His sophomore year in 2019 had him dominate the field, leading his team with noteworthy performances against the Titans and the Denver Broncos. But in 2020, Harrison went through a significant career change. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns, leaving his mark with heedful performances including intercepting a pass for a 47-yard touchdown, and leading his team with nine tackles against the Bengals. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury halted his sensational season, and he was placed on the injured reserve list.

Despite the challenges, Harrison returned stronger, seemingly unrattled by the setbacks he suffered in the previous year. However, in January 2021, Harrison had another pause in his career when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, only to be reactivated two days later.

In 2022, after an incident involving a Chiefs player and coach, Harrison was disqualified and fined during Week 1. However, he overcame these hurdles as he later signed another contract with the Browns in April.

His storyline took yet another turn as he moved on to join the Indianapolis Colts in August 2023. Though released shortly after, he was later reinstated to the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in November that year, while also switching his position from safety to linebacker. Showing adaptability even amidst significant changes, Harrison made his mark during his opening game with Indianapolis by intercepting a pass, and even scoring a touchdown in a subsequent game.

By March 2024, Harrison’s position with the Colts was solidified with a new one-year contract. Although he was briefly released and signed onto the practice squad again later that year, this did not hinder his determination and resolve. Today, Ronnie Harrison Jr. remains a committed, versatile athlete committed to his craft, always looking to the next play, the next chance to make his mark. His journey speaks volumes of his dedication, making him a quintessential figure in the NFL.