Who is Rodney Harrison? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Rodney Scott Harrison

Age: 51 Years, 51 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Erika Harrison

mother: Barbara Harrison

children: Christian Harrison, Mikala Harrison, Rodney Harrison Jr.

Born Country: United States

African American Men American Football Players

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Grouping of People: Black American Football Player

Notable Alumni: Western Illinois University

U.S. State: Illinois

More Facts

education: Western Illinois University

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Childhood & Early Life

Rodney Scott Harrison was born on December 15, 1972, in Markham, Illinois, United States into an African-American family and attended Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. He played football in school as a sophomore, junior and a senior before graduating in 1991.

Playing college level football at Western Illinois University from 1991 to 1993, he registered 345 tackles in 20 games, making a new record for the school. He was named a second-team All-Gateway Football Conference and a second-team All-American in his sophomore year, and a first-team All-Gateway and a first-team All-American as a junior.

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Professional Career

Rodney Harrison was selected as the 145th overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 1994 draft, and the same year, appeared as safety in the Super Bowl XXIX. He became a starting member of the team's defense in 1996 and played in two Pro Bowls with the Chargers in 1998 and 2001.

In 2000, he registered 127 tackles and six interceptions for the Chargers, setting a then career-high record for the team. He last played for the Chargers in 2002, and following his release, signed a six-year deal with New England Patriots in March 2003.

He was named a defensive captain by the Patriots coaching staff before the 2003 season and went on to help his team win their second title in three years in Super Bowl XXXVIII. While he had fractured his right arm late in the game, he earned his first Super Bowl ring in his 10th year in the league.

Harrison, who was named to the Associated Press' All-Pro team following a 140-tackle, led all defensive backs in the NFL with 136 tackles in 2004 for the second straight season. He also started all sixteen regular season games for the sixth time in his career.

In the AFC Championship, he helped the Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers by jumping a Ben Roethlisberger pass and taking it 87 yards for a touchdown. He missed almost an entire quarter of Super Bowl XXXIX after sustaining an injury during the game, but still managed to register seven tackles, a sack, and two interceptions, including a game-winning last-minute one.

He suffered several injuries early on during the 2005 season, and was hit in the knee by a falling Cedrick Wilson on September 25 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He tore the anterior cruciate, medial collateral, and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee and was placed on the injured reserve list for the rest of the season.

He returned to practice ten months later on August 7, 2006 and subsequently started the first seven Patriots games in 2006 until he sustained an injury on his right shoulder. On his return six week later, he received another season-ending injury to his right knee after a low block from Bobby Wade.

He was suspended for the first four games of the 2007 regular season after he admitted to knowingly using human growth hormone to accelerate "the healing process from injuries". It was later revealed by federal agents that he had received a shipment of banned substance days before Super Bowl XXXVIII in February 2004, following which he expressed regret over his decision.

During the 2008 season, he tore his right quadriceps femoris muscle on October 20 and was placed on injured reserve. He later announced his retirement on June 3, 2009, and subsequently became an analyst for NBC Sports' 'Football Night in America'.

Family & Personal Life

Rodney Harrison is married to his college sweetheart Erika Harrison, who studied pharmacy for a year at Western Illinois and also has an MBA. They have three children: son Rodney, Jr. and daughters, Mikala and Sydney.

Trivia

Marian Catholic High School, which Rodney Harrison had attended, retired his No. 37 jersey in March 2006. However, he never wore that jersey while attending the school; his varsity numbers were 26, 11 and 3 during his sophomore, junior and senior years, respectively.

Rodney Harrison Biography