Napoleon Harris

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Napoleon Harris
Date of birth February 25, 1979 (age 28)
Place of birth Flag of United States Chicago, Illinois
Position(s) Linebacker
College Northwestern
NFL Draft 2002 / Round 1/ Pick 23
Statistics
Team(s)
2002-2004
2005-2006
2007-present
Oakland Raiders
Minnesota Vikings
Kansas City Chiefs

Napoleon Harris nicknamed Napo (born February 25, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American Football player who currently plays middle linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL.

Harris was the 23rd overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, and was traded from the Oakland Raiders to Minnesota along with a first round draft pick for wide receiver Randy Moss.

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[edit] High school career

Harris attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois and lettered in football and basketball. In football, he posted 24 sacks, 91 tackles, two fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, two safeties, and one interception and was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Star Publications, Daily Southern, and the Hammond Times. Harris was a football and basketball teammate of current Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El.

[edit] College career

He played both football and basketball (one year) at Northwestern. Completed college career ranked 11th on Northwestern's all-time tackles list with 334. All-Big Ten as a senior after starting all 11 games at defensive end after moving from outside linebacker and ranked fourth on team in tackles with 78.

[edit] Pro career

Napoleon was drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Oakland Raiders, the 23rd overall pick. That year he started 13 of 15 regular-season games and all three playoff games for the Super Bowl XXXVII runner-up Oakland Raiders and was named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team. The next year he was acquired by Minnesota as part of blockbuster Randy Moss trade to Oakland along with the 7th overall pick and a 7th-round pick in the 2005 Draft.

Despite being traded for one of the premier players in the National Football League, Napoleon Harris did not live up to his potential in the following season with the Minnesota Vikings. His starting job was taken by veteran linebacker Keith Newman, and Harris played as primarily a reserve for the rest of the season. New Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin reports that Harris has adjusted very well to the new Cover 2 scheme and will be starting middle linebacker for the 2006 season.

On March 6, 2007, Harris agreed to a six-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Harris previously visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before meeting with Kansas City.[1][2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Teicher, Adam. Chiefs agree to terms with free-agent LB Harris The Kansas City Star, 6 March 2007.
  2. ^ Chiefs agree to terms with UFA LB Napoleon Harris KCChiefs.com, 6 March 2007.