Damien Harris, a former running back for the New England Patriots, announced his retirement from football at the age of 27 on Monday night. The Alabama product had a five-season career in the NFL. In an Instagram post, Harris expressed gratitude for his time in the game and the opportunities he had to compete at the highest level.
Selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Patriots, Harris saw limited playing time in his rookie year. However, he quickly emerged as the starting running back in his second season and had a standout year in 2021, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns. Despite his success, injuries eventually led to his replacement by Rhamondre Stevenson towards the end of the 2022 season.
Reflecting on his career, Harris acknowledged the mentors and coaches who helped shape his football journey, including Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, whom he described as the two greatest head coaches of all time. After leaving the Patriots, Harris spent one season with the Buffalo Bills, playing in six games before ultimately deciding to retire from the sport he loves.
