Chris Harris Jr.

Christopher Harris Jr. (born June 18, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 12 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Denver Broncos. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks and was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Harris is considered one of the greatest undrafted players in NFL history.

In his first season, Harris was named to the All-Rookie Team. In 2015, Harris finished the season winning Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos over the Carolina Panthers, a season during which he was again selected as an All-Pro and chosen for the Pro Bowl. He is known for his off the field charitable activities, and in 2012, he started the Chris Harris Jr. Foundation to support children in need.

Harris was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended nearby Bixby High School in Bixby, Oklahoma where he earned varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. Harris was named All-State in basketball and football as defensive back senior year (2006) after helping the Spartans to the district title.

Harris was an all-metro first-team selection after his junior and senior seasons. He earned all-state honorable mention honors as a junior. He collected 61 total tackles, four interceptions, and seven pass break-ups in 2006. Harris had 23 receptions for 839 yards during his senior campaign.

Harris helped lead Bixby High School to second place in the 2005 state football championship, coached by Pat McGrew. Harris was a member of the academic state champions teams in 2005 and 2006. Harris was named a 2006 leader (top 50 students at Bixby) by the Bixby Optimist Club.

Harris played football in college at the University of Kansas. He received numerous accolades and produced numbers that set him apart as one of the most successful defensive players in the history of Kansas football. By the end of his college career, Harris had placed himself among the most prolific tacklers in school history. He joined as a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity while in college.^{[citation needed]}

Harris was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. On March 16, 2011, he attended Kansas's pro day and performed all of the combine and positional drills. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Harris was projected to go undrafted in the 2011 NFL draft. He was ranked the 30th best free safety prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com.

On July 27, 2011, the Denver Broncos signed Harris to a three-year, $1.39 million contract that included a signing bonus of $2,000.