The chip on Chris Harris Jr’s shoulder began to form in high school. He’d lettered in three sports, been All-State in football and basketball and was honored for his academics. Yet he hadn’t been offered a scholarship after his senior year of football. Finally during the basketball season, the University of Kansas gave him an offer. Once other schools head of KU’s scholarship, they jumped on the band wagon and started calling Chris. The chip started.
After his career with the Jayhawks where he played 50 games and racked up nearly 300 tackles, there was no invite to the Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine game or the Combine. Instead, he had a Pro Day which went well, but he still went undrafted. Then the 2011 NFL lockout started. The chip deepened.
When the lockout lifted, Chris was with the Broncos, trying to make a team with some top-notch defensive backs. He balled out on special teams, got the attention of coaches and made the roster. Eventually he’d be a starter and a key component of the “No Fly Zone” which helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50.
In 2020, his contract was up with the Broncos and despite thinking he would be resigned, he wasn’t and instead went to the Chargers and later to the Saints. In 2023, teams stopped calling and Chris knew it was time to retire, which he did in October of 2024. Today he’s embarking on some new adventures and trying to ensure he and his wife don’t get overthrown by their 5 young daughters.
Listen to Chris’s story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast.
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