Four-time Pro Bowl CB calls it a career

Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr.

Chris Harris attempted to find a new home in the NFL last season but was out of the league throughout the 2023 campaign. Rather than repeating a comeback attempt, the decorated corner has elected to hang up his cleats.

Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette detailed that Harris recently decided to retire. The 34-year-old last played in 2022 with the Saints, playing out a one-year deal following his time in the AFC West. While Harris spent a pair of seasons as a Charger, he will be best remembered for his nine-year tenure in Denver.

“I just waited a year and I stayed in shape, but I realized that everybody was pretty much moving on with the younger players, the younger wave,” Harris said (via Tomasson). “So I thought it would be great to just call it an end.”

Upon entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011, Harris showcased his potential as a rookie with the Broncos. From that season on, he served as a full-time starter and cemented his status as one of the league’s most productive and versatile corners. During his Broncos tenure, Harris racked up 20 interceptions (four of which were returned for touchdowns). That period included four Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro nod (as well as a pair of second-team inclusions).

Harris posted double-digit pass deflections four times in his career and wound up with 97. He also recorded seven forced fumbles during his career, remaining an impactful defender in terms of ball production along the way. The Kansas product was a key figure on the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50-winning team, and he will exit the game with a championship to his name and a place on the 2010s All-Decade team. Harris trained for a 2023 deal, attempting to play a role on a contending team; the fact that an agreement did not materialize means he will end his career with 180 combined regular and postseason games of experience.

Harris noted his regret in not transitioning to safety — a move many corners make in their 30s to extend their careers. He added that he is contemplating a career in media with his playing days behind him, but no firm decision has been made. Harris will depart with just over $68M in career earnings.

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