James Harris life and biography

PRO (91-55/8-4): Signed a five-year contract during the 2009 offseason to keep him with the team through the 2014 season…earned NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2008 after breaking the team’s single-season sack record with 16 sacks…selected as a Pro Bowl starter for the third consecutive season in 2009 and was named team MVP…returned an interception 100 yards in Super Bowl XLIII, the longest play in Super Bowl history…a tough, hard-hitting linebacker who re-joined the team just prior to training camp in 2004 after a year’s absence when Clark Haggans broke his hand…earned the starting outside linebacker job in 2007 and had a breakout year in which he was named team MVP, co-special teams captain and earned his first Pro Bowl honor (starter)…originally joined the team as a rookie free agent in 2002…spent time on the Steelers’ practice squad…signed a four-year contract the 2006 offseason.

2009 (16-16): Started all 16 games…had 10 sacks…forced five fumbles…had 73 tackles…named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5…named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October...named to Pro Football Weekly’s Mid-Season All-Pro Team…and was named an AFC Pro Bowl starter for the third consecutive season…9/10 vs. Tennessee: Made his 40th career start at OLB…finished with four solo tackles, one pass defense and one QB pressure…forced a Bo Scaife fumble on the opening possession of the third quarter, the 14th forced fumble of his career…9/20 at Chicago: Made his second consecutive start at OLB…recorded three tackles (two solo) and two QB pressures…forced a Matt Forte fumble in the fourth quarter, the 15th forced fumble of his career and his second of the season…9/27 at Cincinnati: Made his third consecutive start at OLB…finished with four tackles (three solo), one sack, one pass defense and four QB pressures…10/4 vs. San Diego: Made his fourth consecutive start at OLB…finished with five solo tackles, two sacks, three pressures and one forced fumble…10/11 at Detroit: Made his fifth consecutive start at OLB…finished with five tackles (four solo), three sacks, one forced fumble and three pressures…10/18 vs. Cleveland: Made his sixth consecutive start at OLB…recorded four tackles (two solo) and recovered one fumble…10/25 vs. Minnesota: Made his seventh consecutive start at OLB…recorded seven tackles (six solo) with two sacks…11/9 at Denver: Made his eighth consecutive start at OLB…recorded seven tackles (six solo)…11/15 vs. Cincinnati: Made his ninth consecutive start at OLB…recorded three tackles (one solo), one sack and two pressures…11/22 at Kansas City: Made his 10th consecutive start at OLB…recorded six tackles (three solo), two pressures and one sack…the sack marked his team-high 10th of the season…11/29 at Baltimore: Made his 11th consecutive start at OLB and played as a contributor on special teams…recorded three tackles (one solo) and three pressures…12/6 vs. Oakland: Made his 12th consecutive start at OLB…recorded eight tackles (four solo) and one QB hit…12/10 at Cleveland: Made his 13th consecutive start at OLB…recorded five tackles (four solo) and two QB hits…12/20 vs. Green Bay: Made his 14th consecutive start at OLB…recorded one solo tackle and four QB hits…12/27 vs. Baltimore: Made his 15th consecutive start at OLB…recorded four tackles (three solo), one QB hit and one forced fumble…1/3 at Miami: Made his 16th consecutive start at OLB…recorded four solo tackles and one QB hit.


2008 (15-15/3-3): Started 15 regular-season games at OLB...missed the regular-season finale against the Browns due to a hip injury, snapping his streak of 32 consecutive starts...named AP Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Weekly Defensive Player of the Year and GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year...AP first-team All-Pro...PFW/PFWA All-NFL...PFW/ PFWA All-AFC...The Sporting News All-Pro...Sports Illustrated All-Pro...NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year...AFC Pro Bowl starter for the second consecutive season... named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 11 after recording five tackles (two solo), one sack, one interception, one pass defense, one forced fumble against the Chargers...named GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week for his performances Week 11 against San Diego and Week 13 at New England...finished third on the team with a career-high 100 tackles (68 solo)...established a franchise record with 16 sacks...set a career high with seven forced fumbles...recorded a career-high 11 tackles (eight solo) on November 9 against the Colts...started all three postseason games...finished with 13 postseason tackles (10 solo), one sack and one pass defense...his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half of Super Bowl XLIII was the longest play in Super Bowl history...was also the longest play in Steelers’ postseason history...9/7 vs. Houston: Played in his 24th consecutive game and made his 18th consecutive start at OLB...led the team with 10 tackles (seven solo) and three sacks for losses of 20 yards...forced a fumble in the fourth quarter which was recovered by LaMarr Woodley and led to a FG that put the Steelers up 38-10...had one solo tackle on special teams...9/14 at Cleveland: Started his 19th consecutive game at OLB...finished with four solo tackles and three QB pressures...had three tackles (one solo) on special teams...9/21 at Philadelphia: Started his 20th consecutive game at OLB...finished with five tackles (four solo) and tied Woodley for the team lead with three QB pressures...9/29 vs. Baltimore: Started his 21st consecutive game at OLB...led the team with eight solo tackles, 2.5 sacks and two quarterback pressures...forced a Joe Flacco fumble in the third quarter which was recovered by Woodley for a touchdown... had one solo tackle on special teams...10/5 at Jacksonville: Started his 22nd consecutive game at OLB...finished with four solo tackles, including a key six-yard sack and forced fumble of David Garrard on the Jaguars’ final possession...key contributor in limiting the Jaguars to only 213 total yards of offense on 54 plays (3.9 avg.)...10/19 at Cincinnati: Made his 23rd consecutive start at OLB...finished second (tied) on the team with eight tackles (six solo)...recorded two sacks on Ryan Fitzpatrick to give him 8.5 for the season, tying his career high established in 2007...led the team with five QB pressures and added one pass defense...10/26 vs. New York Giants: Made his 24th consecutive start at OLB...had two assisted tackles... led the team with a season-high seven QB pressures... handled the team’s long-snapping duties after Greg Warren left the game with a knee injury...had two solo tackles on special teams...11/3 at Washington: Made his 25th consecutive start at OLB...finished with nine tackles (five solo)...had 1.5 sacks, giving him 10 for the season, a new career high...had two solo tackles on special teams...11/9 vs. Indianapolis: Made his 26th consecutive start at OLB...finished with a seasonhigh 11 tackles (eight solo)...surpassed 200 tackles for his career (204)...had one sack and five QB pressures...recorded one solo tackle on special teams...11/16 vs. San Diego: Played in his 70th career game...finished with five tackles (two solo)...his second quarter sack of Philip Rivers forced a fumble in the end zone that resulted in a safety...notched his first interception at the end of the first half and returned it 33 yards...had one pass defense...had three QB pressures...11/20 vs. Cincinnati: Made his 35th career start at OLB... finished with five tackles (four solo)...11/30 at New England: Made his 29th consecutive start at OLB...finished with eight tackles (six solo)...recorded two sacks to extend his team-leading total to 14...forced two fumbles, his fifth and sixth of the season...recorded one solo tackle on special teams...12/7 vs. Dallas: Made his 30th consecutive start at OLB...finished with seven tackles (six solo), one sack, two QB pressures and one forced fumble...his sack gave him 15 for the season, tying him with Mike Merriweather for the most in a single season in franchise history...his forced fumble on that same play gave him seven for the season, breaking his career high of six set last season...had one solo tackle on special teams...12/14 at Baltimore: Made his 31st consecutive start at OLB...finished with seven tackles (one solo) and had three QB pressures...12/21 at Tennessee: Played in his 75th career game and made his 32nd consecutive start at OLB...finished with seven tackles (three solo), which gave him 100 tackles in a season for the first time in his career...had one QB pressure...his sack of Kerry Collins in the third quarter gave him 16 for the season, breaking the team’s single- season record previously shared with Mike Merriweather... 12/28 vs. Cleveland: Was inactive due to a hip injury, ending his streak of 32 consecutive starts...AFC Divisional Game 1/11 vs. San Diego: Made his second consecutive postseason start at OLB... finished with three tackles (two solo) and had one QB pressure...recorded a sack in the fourth quarter, giving him 2.5 in his postseason career...AFC Championship Game 1/18 vs. Baltimore: Made his third consecutive postseason start at OLB...finished with six tackles (five solo) and had three QB pressures...Super Bowl XLIII 2/1 vs. Arizona: Made his fourth consecutive postseason start at OLB...finished with four tackles (three solo), one pass defense and two QB pressures... recorded a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, the longest play in Super Bowl history...was his first career postseason interception and touchdown.

2007 (16-16/1-1): Started all 16 games and the playoff loss to Jacksonville at ROLB in first season as a starter…named 2008 Team MVP…was GMC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 9 when he had eight tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and a fumble recovery against Baltimore…was AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November…named Associated Press All-Pro Second-Team…voted a starter for the AFC in the Pro Bowl, his first career appearance…finished fourth on the team with 80 tackles and led the team with 8.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, all career-highs…also added two fumble recoveries and an interception…tied for second on team with 12 special teams tackles…forced one fumble on special teams…recorded eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and three pass defenses in the playoff loss against Jacksonville...his 1.5 sacks were his first career postseason sacks...9/9 at Cleveland: Started at ROLB and tied for the most tackles in the game with seven solo tackles…tallied one-half sack for a loss of five yards…had one quarterback pressure...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Started his third consecutive game at ROLB and had one sack for a loss of seven yards while logging only 16 snaps before leaving the game due to injury…also had two special teams tackles (one solo)...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Started his fourth consecutive game at ROLB…had four solo tackles and added two more on special teams…part of a defensive unit that held Frank Gore to 39 rushing yards...9/30 at Arizona: Started at ROLB and logged 63 snaps…registered three tackles (two solo) including a half sack for a loss of four yards…also had one quarterback pressure…saw action on special teams and managed one solo tackle...10/7 vs. Seattle: Made his sixth consecutive start at ROLB and was in on 42 defensive snaps…tallied six tackles (five solo)…part of a defensive unit that allowed only 144 total yards, 38 rushing yards, 106 passing yards and only eight first downs…also registered one special teams tackle...10/21 at Denver: Started at ROLB and played in his 50th career game…saw action on 53 defensive plays…racked up a total of eight tackles (seven solo)…also registered his third sack of the season for a loss of three yards…part of a defensive unit that allowed Denver running backs to gain only 54 rushing yards...10/28 at Cincinnati: Started at ROLB and saw action on 49 defensive plays…racked up seven tackles (five solo)…also caused and recovered a fumble on Kenny Watson, which ended any chances of a Cincinnati comeback late in the fourth quarter…11/5 vs. Baltimore: Made his 15th consecutive start at ROLB…paced the team in tackles with nine (eight solo) including three and a half sacks for a loss of 25.5 yards…forced three fumbles (one on special teams) and one fumble recovery …posted his first interception of the season and the second of his career and returned it for 20 yards…part of a defensive unit that allowed the Ravens only 104 total yards, with 64 coming on the ground and 40 yards by air…the Baltimore offense managed only five first downs all night…11/11 vs. Cleveland: Started in his 10th consecutive game at ROLB…saw action on 55 defensive snaps…racked up four tackles (three solo)…recorded one quarterback pressure and two caused fumbles…part of a defensive unit that allowed only 163 total yards, including 40 rushing and 123 passing yards…also added two solo special teams tackles...11/18 at N.Y. Jets: Made his 11th consecutive start at ROLB and saw action on 73 defensive snaps…tallied four solo tackles, including one sack on Kellen Clemens for a loss of nine yards…added three quarterback hits…also managed to rack up two special teams tackles (one solo)…11/26 vs. Miami: Started at ROLB, while starting in his 55th career game…recorded two solo tackles…added one sack on Dolphins QB John Beck in the fourth quarter for a loss of five yards…part of a defense that gave up only 159 total yards, including 49 rushing, 110 passing and only nine first downs...12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Made his 20th career start at ROLB…was in on 70 defensive plays and also played special teams…finished the game with four tackles (three solo) and one pressure on Bengals’ quarterback Carson Palmer...12/9 at New England: Played in his 20th consecutive game, while starting at ROLB…logged 57 defensive snaps and finished the game with four tackles (three solo) and one pressure on Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady...12/16 vs. Jacksonville: Made his 15th consecutive start at ROLB…totaled seven tackles (five solo) with one hit on Jaguars’ quarterback David Garrard…also had one solo special teams tackle...12/20 at St. Louis: Made his 23rd career start at ROLB…saw action on 50 defensive plays and finished with three tackles (two solo) and one pass defensed...12/30 at Baltimore: Made his 17th consecutive start at ROLB…finished with seven tackles (six solo)...AFC WILD CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville: Registered his fifth consecutive playoff appearance and his first playoff start at ROLB…tallied eight tackles (four solo)…registered his first career postseason sack for a loss of five yards…added a half-sack in the fourth quarter.

2006 (11-1): Made his lone start of the season in the season finale in place of the injured Clark Haggans…finished the season with eight tackles on defense and 15 special teams tackles…9/7 vs. Miami: Logged three defensive snaps and registered two quarterback hurries/pressures…recorded one solo special teams tackle…9/18 at Jacksonville: Recorded a game-high four special teams tackles…played three snaps on defense…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Saw action on special teams…led the team with two solo special teams tackles…10/8 at San Diego: Saw action on special teams before suffering a high ankle sprain and did not return…10/15 vs. Kansas City: Was inactive with an ankle injury…10/22 at Atlanta: Was inactive due to ankle injury…10/29 at Oakland: Was inactive due to ankle injury…11/5 vs. Denver: Was inactive…11/12 vs. New Orleans: Was inactive…11/19 at Cleveland: Was active for the first time since his ankle injury…logged three defensive snaps and played special teams…11/26 at Baltimore: Registered one defensive snap…collected two special teams tackles (one solo)…12/3 vs. Tampa Bay: Recorded two tackles (one solo) and one quarterback hurry/pressure…added two special teams tackles (one solo)…12/7 vs. Cleveland: Saw action on special teams and had a game-high three solo special teams tackles…12/17 at Carolina: Logged 13 defensive snaps…collected one tackle and one quarterback hurry/pressure…added one solo special teams tackle…blocked a punt in the second quarter that led to a Steelers touchdown and a 17-0 lead, the first punt block for the team since 2002…12/24 vs. Baltimore: Collected two tackles…12/31 at Cincinnati: Started at ROLB for the injured Clark Haggans…logged 55 snaps and recorded three solo tackles…added one quarterback hurry/pressure.

2005 (16-3/2-0): Played in all 16 games and two of the four postseason games…made three starts during the regular season when Clark Haggans was sidelined with an injury…missed the AFC Divisional Playoff Game and the AFC Championship Game with an ankle injury…finished the season with a career-high 21 solo defensive tackles…posted three sacks on the year and also had his first career interception (Week 5 at San Diego)…9/11 vs. Tennessee: Played 18 defensive snaps…recorded two solo tackles…9/18 at Houston: Played three defensive snaps and recorded his first sack of the season…led team with three solo special teams tackles…9/25 vs. New England: Logged only three defensive snaps but registered a sack for a loss of eight yards…also had a special teams tackle…10/10 at San Diego: Started at LOLB in place of injured starter Clark Haggans…intercepted first career pass off of Drew Brees and returned it 25 yards…took 61 snaps and registered six defensive tackles (four solo), including three stops for loss and defensed one pass…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Started for the second consecutive game at LOLB…played 74 snaps and finished with seven tackles (six solo)…had a sack for seven yards and two quarterback hurries/pressures…10/23 at Cincinnati: Started third straight game at LOLB for the injured Clark Haggans…recorded five tackles (three solo) and one tackle for a loss…also added a quarterback hurry/pressure and a pass defense while logging 57 snaps…10/31 vs. Baltimore: Saw action as backup OLB with the return of Clark Haggans…logged 25 snaps and finished with two solo tackles and a tackle for a loss…11/6 at Green Bay: Recorded one solo tackle on 20 snaps and added a solo special teams tackle…11/13 vs. Cleveland: Recorded two tackles (one solo) in 17 plays at LB…played on special teams and recorded three tackles (one solo)…11/20 at Baltimore: Recorded two tackles on 14 plays…added three special teams tackles (two solo)…11/28 at Indianapolis: Saw action as a reserve linebacker and on special teams…logged two snaps…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Played on special teams and recorded one special teams tackle…12/11 vs. Chicago: Played on special teams and recorded two special teams tackles (one solo)…12/18 at Minnesota: Recorded one assisted tackle for a loss of one yard on his only snap on defense...on that play he stopped Ciatrick Fason on a third-and-one to hold the Vikings to a field goal…played on special teams…12/24 at Cleveland: Logged 17 plays…recorded four special teams tackles (two solo)…deflect a Kyle Richardson punt that traveled eight yards…made highlights when he slammed a fan to the ground for trespassing onto the field…1/1 vs. Detroit: Logged one defensive snap…played on special teams but did not record a tackle…AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Cincinnati: Played on special teams…made one assisted tackle on special team…injured right ankle in the first quarter while making tackle and did not return…AFC Divisional Game 1/15 at Indianapolis: Did not play due to ankle injury…AFC Championship Game 1/22 at Denver: Did not play due to ankle injury…Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle: Led the special teams with three tackles (two solo).

2004 (16-4/2-0): Saw action in all 16 games, starting four…had his first career TD on a fumble return at Buffalo (Week 17)…finished the season with a career-high 25 special teams tackles…9/12 vs. Oakland: Tied Sean Morey for team honors with three special teams tackles (two solo)...9/19 at Baltimore: Had three special teams tackles...9/26 at Miami: Was credited with two special teams assists...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: Was credited with two special teams assists...10/10 vs. Cleveland: Registered one special teams assist...10/17 at Dallas: Finished with two special teams tackles (one solo)...10/31 vs. New England: Registered one solo special teams tackle...11/7 vs. Philadelphia: Was credited with one special teams assist...11/14 at Cleveland: Performed superbly when he was thrust into his first career start when Joey Porter was ejected prior to the game because of a pre-game brawl…registered his first quarterback sack…finished with six total tackles (five solo)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure and a pass defense…played 50 defensive snaps...11/21 at Cincinnati: Registered two special teams tackles (one solo)...11/28 vs. Washington: Had a big day on special teams, registering a team-high six special teams tackles (five solo)...12/5 at Jacksonville: Had one special teams assist…played one defensive snap...12/12 vs. N.Y. Jets: Produced another solid performance filling in for injured Clark Haggans…finished with six total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with one solo special teams tackle...12/18 at N.Y. Giants: Made his second career start for Haggans…finished with five total tackles (two solo)..also was credited with one pass defensed…played 41 defensive snaps...12/26 vs. Baltimore: Had another strong game in place of the injured Haggans…finished with five total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with four quarterback hurries/pressures and two passes defensed…logged 53 defensive plays...1/2 at Buffalo: Scored his first career TD on a sack and forced fumble by Ricardo Colclough that he retrieved in midair and raced 18 yards for a score…also recorded three total tackles—all solo...logged 48 defensive plays...AFC Divisional Playoff Game 1/15 vs. N.Y. Jets: Led the team with three special teams tackles...AFC Championship Game 1/23/05 vs. New England: Was credited with two special teams tackles (one solo).

2003 (0-0): Made final roster but was released two days later (9/13)...was signed to practice squad (9/17) but was eventually released (10/7) and did not play for the remainder of the season.

2002 (1-0/0-0): Originally joined team as a rookie free agent…was released Sept. 1 and then re-signed to the practice squad Sept. 3…was activated to roster Dec. 17 when running back Verron Haynes was placed on the reserve/injured list…dressed in the final regular-season game and played special teams...was inactive for both postseason games.

COLLEGE: Was named the team's Outstanding Defensive Player in 2000 and 2001. 2000: Was an All-MAC First Team selection at outside linebacker…finished third in the league's Defensive Player of the Year balloting…registered 98 tackles (72 solo), three interceptions, five passes defensed, forced three fumbles and recovered one fumble…led the MAC with 15 quarterback sacks and ranked second in the conference with 20 tackles for losses. 2000: Led team with 106 tackles (65 solo) and 13 tackles for a loss. 1999: Moved into the starting lineup for the final three games…finished fifth on the team with 67 tackles (42 solo)…led team with eight tackles for a loss...majored in general studies.

PERSONAL: Attended Coventry High School in Akron, Ohio...is the son of Mildred and James Sr....Full name: James Harrison, Jr.

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