View source for Walt Harris (cornerback)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1974)}}
{{For|other American football people|Walter Harris (disambiguation)#American football{{!}}Walter Harris § American football}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Walt Harris
| image       = Walt Harris in 2007.jpg
| caption     = Harris with the San Francisco 49ers in 2007
| number      = 27, 21
| position    = [[Cornerback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1974|8|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[LaGrange, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date  =
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 11
| weight_lbs  = 192
| high_school = [[LaGrange High School (Georgia)|LaGrange]]
| college     = [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]]
| draftyear   = 1996
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 13
| pastteams   =
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1996}}–{{NFL Year|2001}})
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2003}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[Baltimore Ravens]] ({{NFL Year|2010}})*
| highlights  =
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2007 Pro Bowl|2006]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1996|1996]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1994 All-SEC football team|1994]], [[1995 All-SEC football team|1995]])
| statlabel1  = [[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
| statvalue1  = 755
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 3.0
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
| statvalue3  = 17
| statlabel4  = [[Pass deflections]]
| statvalue4  = 129
| statlabel5  = [[Interceptions]]
| statvalue5  = 35
| statlabel6  = [[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
| statvalue6  = 4
| pfr         = HarrWa21 
}}

'''Walter Lee Harris''' (born August 10, 1974) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[cornerback]] for 13 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State Bulldogs]] and was selected by the [[Chicago Bears]] in the first round of the [[1996 NFL draft]] with the 13th overall pick. He played for the Bears for six years and was then signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in 2002. He then signed with [[Washington Redskins]] in 2004. He signed with the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in 2006 where he earned his 1st trip to the Pro Bowl.

Harris signed with the 49ers in 2006, where he led the team with a career-high eight [[interception]]s.

He was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November 2006.  Harris was also selected to represent the [[National Football Conference]] (NFC) in the [[2007 Pro Bowl]], in place of injured [[Philadelphia Eagles]] cornerback [[Lito Sheppard]].

Harris blocked an extra point in a 17-16 LaGrange High School victory against Colquitt County in the 1991 AAAA state championship game, a win that led LaGrange High School to be named national champion by USA Today.

==College career==
Harris emerged as [[Starting lineup|starter]] at [[Mississippi State University]] as a [[freshman]] at [[cornerback]]/[[Safety (American football position)|free safety]] and played in ten games, including starts in the final three games.  As a sophomore, he earned [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] (second-team) honors and started every game.  That season, he tied the [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football statistical leaders#Defense|school seasonal record]] with six interceptions.  Harris was an [[Associated Press]] and Coaches First-team All-SEC while starting every game at cornerback as junior.  That season, he was ranked third in SEC and fifth in nation with six interceptions, led the team with 12 [[Pass deflected|passes defensed]], and recovered two [[fumble]]s and blocked two kicks.  As a senior, he had four interceptions and eight passes defensed, played in the [[Senior Bowl]], and was selected First-team All-SEC.  Harris earned All-SEC honors in the final three seasons at Mississippi State.  As a four-year [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]], he shares the [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]] [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football statistical leaders#Defense|career interception record]] with [[Johnthan Banks]] at 16.

In 2018, Harris and [[Art Davis (American football)|Art Davis]] were enshrined into Mississippi State football's "Ring of Honor" adding their names to the facade of [[Davis Wade Stadium]]. They joined former Bulldog greats [[Jack Cristil]], [[Jackie Parker]], [[Shorty McWilliams]], [[D. D. Lewis (linebacker, born 1945)|D.D. Lewis]], [[Kent Hull]], [[Johnie Cooks]], and [[Joe Fortunato (linebacker)|Joe Fortunato]].

==Professional career==

===Chicago Bears===
Harris was selected by the [[Chicago Bears]] in the first round (13th overall) in the [[1996 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1996/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In his rookie season, Harris made 13 starts and recorded a career-high 113 tackles along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.  The following season, he started in all 16 games for the first time in his career and finished the season with 95 tackles and five interceptions.  By the time the 1998 season started, Harris was a firmly established member of the team and a consistent starter.  From the 1998 season until the end of the 2000 season, he started every game.  The 1998 season finished with 85 tackles and four interceptions.  In 1999, his fourth for the Bears, Harris made 71 tackles and one interception.  The 2000 season saw Harris make 58 tackles and two interceptions.  In 2001, his last for the [[Chicago Bears]], Harris made 50 tackles and one interception.

===Indianapolis Colts===
Harris was signed by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] on March 18, 2002, as an unrestricted free agent.  In his first season with the Colts he started 15 games and made 43 tackles and two interceptions.  In his final year for the Colts, Harris made 55 tackles.

===Washington Redskins===
Harris was signed by the [[Washington Redskins]] as a free agent on March 18, 2004.  In his first season with the Redskins, he played in 16 games recording 21 tackles and two interceptions.  In 2005, his final year for the Redskins Harris finished the season with 57 tackles and one interception.

===San Francisco 49ers===
Harris was signed by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] as a free agent on March 15, 2006.  In his [[2006 NFL season|debut season]] with the 49ers, he made 60 tackles, one sack, a career-high eight interceptions, and a 42-yard interception for a touchdown. That earned him his first trip to the [[Pro Bowl]].

In the [[2008 NFL season|2008 season]], he recorded 49 tackles, one sack, and three interceptions (as of December 7, 2008).<ref>http://www.nfl.com/players/waltharris/profile?id=HAR550409} Stats courtesy of NFL.com</ref> Harris missed the entire 2009 football season after tearing his ACL in 49er organized team activities (OTAs).

===NFL statistics===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Team !! Games !! Combined Tackles !! Tackles !! Assisted TAckles !! Sacks !! Forced Fumbles !! Fumble Recoveries !! Fumble Return Yards !! Interceptions !! Interception Return Yards !! Yards per Interception Return !! Longest Interception Return !! Interceptions Returned for Touchdown !! Passes Defended
|-
| [[1996 NFL season|1996]] || [[1996 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || 15 || 95 || 81 || 14 || 0.0 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9
|-
| [[1997 NFL season|1997]] || [[1997 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || 16 || 80 || 72 || 8 || 0.0 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 5 || 30 || 6 || 12 || 0 || 16
|-
| [[1998 NFL season|1998]] || [[1998 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || 14 || 68 || 63 || 5 || 0.0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 41 || 10 || 26 || 1 || 16
|-
| [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || 15 || 69 || 60 || 9 || 1.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || -1 || -1 || -1 || 0 || 13
|-
| [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || 12 || 40 || 31 || 9 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 35 || 18 || 35 || 1 || 13
|-
| [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || 15 || 50 || 48 || 2 || 0.0 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 45 || 45 || 39 || 1 || 9
|-
| [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]] || 15 || 43 || 34 || 9 || 0.0 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 17
|-
| [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]] || 16 || 54 || 35 || 19 || 0.0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 12
|-
| [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Washington Redskins season|WSH]] || 16 || 17 || 15 || 2 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 31 || 16 || 31 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Washington Redskins season|WSH]] || 13 || 57 || 49 || 8 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10
|-
| [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]] || 15 || 63 || 52 || 11 || 1.0 || 4 || 2 || 0 || 8 || 84 || 11 || 42 || 1 || 20
|-
| [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]] || 15 || 58 || 47 || 11 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 42 || 11 || 23 || 0 || 13
|-
| [[2008 NFL season|2008]] || [[2008 San Francisco 49ers season|SF]] || 16 || 54 || 44 || 10 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 25 || 8 || 24 || 0 || 13
|-
| Career || || 193 || 748 || 631 || 117 || 3.0 || 18 || 12 || 0 || 35 || 332 || 9 || 42 || 4 || 166	
|}<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Walt Harris Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/947/walt-harris|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=22 May 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Harris attended [[LaGrange High School (Georgia)|LaGrange High School]] and was [[All-America]] honorable mention by ''[[USA Today]]''. His team compiled a 34–6 record in his final three years. He also was a [[Track and field|track]] [[Hurdling|hurdler]].  He teamed with [[Thomas Smith (cornerback)|Thomas Smith]] to organize ticket donation program called "Corner to Corner" in first season with the Bears that provides tickets for each home game to the [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Club]]s of [[Chicago]]. The program included an on-field visit before each game and visits by Harris and Smith to clubs throughout the season. He partnered with fellow members of Bears secondary and [[Meals on Wheels]] in 2000 to "Intercept Hunger" with meal donations being made based on participating players’ performances each game. Harris and his wife, Trina, have four children: Courtney, London, Summer and Brandon.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611041144/http://49ers.com/team/roster_detail.php?PRKey=18 |date=June 11, 2009 |title=San Francisco 49ers bio (covers up to 2008 season) }}
*{{Footballstats |pfr=H/HarrWa21}}

{{1996 NFL Draft}}
{{BearsFirstPick}}
{{Bears1996DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Walt}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from LaGrange, Georgia]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Ravens players]]