NFL CAREER – Harris was originally selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (81st overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Boston College. In five seasons with the Lions, he played in 81 regular season games with 40 starts and recorded 230 tackles (164 solo), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 16 special teams stops. He also appeared in all three postseason contests for Detroit in 2023, adding a coverage stop. Harris will look to provide quality depth in the defensive backfield and make an impact on special teams in his first season with the Black and Gold.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a one-year contract by New Orleans Saints (UFA-Det.), 5/1/24; Re-signed by Detroit to a one-year contract extension, 3/15/23; Signed by Detroit to a four-year contract, 6/3/19; Selected in the third round (81st Overall) by Detroit Lions in the 2019 NFL Draft.
2023 – Appeared in all 17 regular season games with two starts at cornerback for Detroit, totaling 17 tackles (12 solo), one interception, two passes defensed, one fumble recovery and a special teams stop. Also played in all three postseason contests, adding one coverage tackle…Added two solo tackles and one coverage stop in win at Green Bay, Sept. 28… Started in win vs Carolina, Oct. 8, and tied his career-high of nine tackles (seven solo) to go along with a pass defense and fumble recovery…Recorded four stops (two solo), and an interception/pass defense in win at Tampa Bay, Oct. 15…Started and added one tackle at Baltimore, Oct. 22…Contributed one stop in win at L.A. Chargers, Nov. 12…Added a coverage tackle in Detroit's Divisional Round playoff win vs Tampa Bay, 1/21/24. 2022 – Played in 15 contests with ten starts, totaling 53 tackles (40 solo), two stops for loss, four passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Also contributed on special teams, adding four tackles…Played in the season opener against Philadelphia, Sept. 11, adding one solo stop on defense and one on special teams…Made his first start of the season at corner in win vs Washington, Sept.18, racking up eight tackles (five solo), one stop for loss, an interception and one pass defense…Played and recorded a season-best two tackles on special teams at Minnesota, Sept. 25…Started and contributed five solo tackles and a stop for loss vs Miami, Oct. 30…Added six stops (four solo) and one pass defense in win vs Green Bay, Nov. 6…Tied a season-high with eight tackles (five solo) and forced a fumble that was recovered by Detroit in win at N.Y. Giants, Nov. 20…Started at nickel corner and added four solo stops vs Buffalo, Nov. 24…Started at nickel for the second straight week in win vs Jacksonville , recording five tackles (four solo), one pass defense and one coverage stop, Dec. 4…Started at corner and contributed four stops (three solo) in win at N.Y. Jets, Dec. 18…Started at Carolina, Dec. 24, and added two tackles…Started at slot corner and registered two stops and a pass defense in win vs Chicago, 1/1/23…Recovered a fumble in season finale win at Green Bay, 1/8/23. 2021– Started all 17 contests and registered a career-high 91 tackles (career-best 62 solo), a half sack, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and two special teams stops. Started the first 13 games at safety before moving to corner, where he would start the remaining four contests…Contributed seven stops (four solo) in season opener vs San Francisco, Sept. 12…Added six solo stops and a coverage tackle at Green Bay, Sept. 20…Added two tackles and first career forced fumble in tie at Pittsburgh, Nov. 14…Recorded eight stops (six solo) and a half sack at Cleveland, Nov. 21…Contributed seven tackles (five solo) and a pass defense vs Chicago, Nov. 25…Tied season-high with nine tackles and a pass breakup at Denver, Dec. 12…Racked up a career-high eight solo tackles (tied for career-best nine stops) in season finale win vs Green Bay, 1/9/22. 2020 – Appeared in all 16 games with five starts at safety in his second year with the Lions, recording 33 tackles (24 solo), a pass defense and two special teams stops…Started in opener vs Chicago and added five solo stops, Sept. 13…Started and had five stops (four solo) at Green Bay, Sept. 20…Started and had three tackles (two solo) and a coverage stop in win at Arizona, Sept. 27…Played vs New Orleans and contributed three tackles (two solo), Oct. 4…Added a coverage stop vs Indianapolis, Nov. 1…Contributed four solo tackles at Minnesota, Nov. 8…Inserted back into starting lineup at safety and registered three stops at Carolina, Nov. 22…Started and recorded two solo tackles vs Houston, Nov. 26…Recorded two tackles vs Green Bay, Dec. 13. 2019 – After being selected in the third round (81st overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft, appeared in 16 games as a rookie with six starts and registered 36 tackles (26 solo), one sack and three passes defensed. Also contributed on coverage units, adding a career-high seven special teams tackles. Became the first Lions defensive back to record 30 tackles, three passes defensed and one sack in their rookie season since Louis Delmas in 2009…Made his NFL debut in the season opener at Arizona, adding one tackle on special teams, Sept. 8…Recorded one coverage stop in victory vs L.A. Chargers, Sept. 15…Registered his first career NFL defensive tackle vs Kansas City, finishing with three solo stops, Sept. 29…Racked up a season-high six stops (three solo) and coverage tackle at Green Bay, Oct. 14…Added a solo stop and a season-high two special teams tackles vs Minnesota, Oct. 20…Made his first career start at safety and recorded four tackles (two solo) and a coverage stop at Oakland, Nov. 3…Started and registered two stops and his first career pass defense at Chicago, Nov. 10…Started and recorded four tackles (three solo) vs Dallas, Nov. 17…Started and added four stops and one pass defense at Washington, Nov. 24…Contributed three tackles (two solo) vs Tampa Bay, Dec. 15…Registered a season-best four solo stops, a sack for a 11-yard loss (first of career) and a pass defense vs Green Bay, Dec. 29.
COLLEGE – Appeared in 50 career games with 41 starts for Boston College and totaled 225 tackles, one sack, 7.5 stops for loss, six fumble recoveries, five interceptions and 12 passes defensed…Started all 12 contests as a senior team captain in 2018 and was named third-team All-ACC, when he contributed 75 tackles (43 solo), one interception and two fumble recoveries…Started all 13 games in 2017 and produced 83 tackles (45 solo), one sack, one interception and four fumble recoveries (Led NCAA), including one returned for a touchdown…Started all 13 contests for the Eagles in 2016, registering 47 stops, two interceptions returned for 64 yards and four pass breakups…As a freshman, appeared in 12 games with three starts and added 20 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble…Majored in communications.
PERSONAL – Prepped at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn…Son of Twanna and Will Harris Sr., a South Mississippi native who played for Mississippi State from 1989-92 and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 1993 NFL Draft, playing for the Bills, going to the preseason with Jacksonville and playing for the World League of American Football's London Monarch's in 1996 and the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats from 1997-98…Cousins with E.J. Smith, who is the son of the NFL's all-time leading rusher and Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith…William Jamahl Harris was born on December 19, 1995 in Suwanee, Ga.
