Marvin Daniel Harrison (born August 25, 1972) is a former
American footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the
Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. He was drafted by the
Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the first round of the
1996 NFL DraftThe 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
. He played
college footballCollege football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at
SyracuseThe Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Colts, and is widely considered as one of the greatest and most productive wide receivers in NFL history.
College career
Harrison was a three-year starter at
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, playing with
Donovan McNabbDonovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
in his final year. Harrison set a school record with 2,718 career receiving yards and ranked second in school history with 20 receiving touchdowns to Rob Moore. Harrison graduated with a degree in retailing.
Collegiate statistics
| Year |
Team |
G |
GS |
Rec |
Yards |
AVG |
TD |
| 1991 |
SYR |
10 |
0 |
2 |
13 |
6.5 |
0 |
| 1993 |
SYR |
11 |
9 |
41 |
813 |
19.8 |
7 |
| 1994 |
SYR |
10 |
10 |
36 |
761 |
21.1 |
5 |
| 1995 |
SYR |
11 |
11 |
56 |
1,131 |
20.2 |
8 |
| Tot. |
N/A |
42 |
30 |
135 |
2,718 |
20.1 |
20 |
Indianapolis Colts
Harrison was selected by the
Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
with the 19th selection in the
1996 NFL DraftThe 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
, a selection which was obtained in a trade that sent
Jeff GeorgeJeffrey Scott "Jeff" George is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft...
to the
Atlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Harrison has gone on to become one of the most productive receivers from that draft class, which included
Keyshawn JohnsonJoseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
,
Joe HornJoseph Horn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and also played for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
, and
Terrell OwensTerrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
among many others.
In 2002 Harrison broke
Herman MooreHerman Joseph Moore is a former American National Football League wide receiver. At George Washington High School in Danville he played mostly as a kicker and also as a tight end. He went to the University of Virginia, where he was a 2-sport athlete...
's single season receptions record by 20 receptions. He finished with 143 catches, and he also had over 1,700 yards receiving. In December, 2006 Harrison became just the fourth player in NFL history to record 1000 receptions, joining
Jerry RiceJerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
(1549),
Cris CarterCristopher D. Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins ....
(1101), and Tim Brown (1094). He is also one of only seven wide receivers in NFL history to reach 100 touchdowns.
During a 2007 game against the Denver Broncos, Harrison injured his knee while attempting a block and was lost for the season, making only a small appearance in their lone playoff game that season. It marked only the second time Harrison had missed regular season action due to injuries and the first since 1998.
On December 14, 2008 in a game against the Detroit Lions, Harrison caught his 1,095th career reception, passing Tim Brown for third all time. He passed Cris Carter to become second on the all-time NFL reception record list with 1,102 receptions during a 23–0 Colts victory over the Tennessee Titans on December 28, 2008.
Following the 2008 NFL season, Harrison asked for and was granted his release by the Colts. After sitting out the entire 2009 season, Harrison quietly retired from the NFL.
Professional statistics
Accurate as of April 13, 2009
| Year |
Team |
G |
GS |
Rec |
Yards |
AVG |
LG |
TD |
| 1996 |
IND |
16 |
15 |
64 |
836 |
13.1 |
41 |
8 |
| 1997 |
IND |
16 |
15 |
73 |
866 |
11.9 |
56 |
6 |
| 1998 |
IND |
12 |
12 |
59 |
776 |
13.2 |
61 |
7 |
| 1999 |
IND |
16 |
16 |
115 |
1,663 |
14.5 |
57 |
12 |
| 2000 |
IND |
16 |
16 |
102 |
1,413 |
13.9 |
78 |
14 |
| 2001 |
IND |
16 |
16 |
109 |
1,524 |
14.0 |
68 |
15 |
| 2002 |
IND |
16 |
16 |
143 |
1,722 |
12.0 |
69 |
11 |
| 2003 |
IND |
15 |
15 |
94 |
1,272 |
13.5 |
79 |
10 |
| 2004 |
IND |
16 |
16 |
86 |
1,113 |
12.9 |
59 |
15 |
| 2005 |
IND |
15 |
15 |
82 |
1,146 |
14.0 |
80 |
12 |
| 2006 |
IND |
16 |
16 |
95 |
1,366 |
14.4 |
68 |
12 |
| 2007 |
IND |
5 |
5 |
20 |
247 |
12.4 |
42 |
1 |
| 2008 |
IND |
15 |
15 |
60 |
636 |
10.6 |
67T |
5 |
| Tot. |
N/A |
190 |
188 |
1,102 |
14,580 |
13.2 |
80 |
128 |
NFL records
- Averaged 84.77 receptions per season, which is second to the all time record held by Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe is a former American football wide receiver and an analyst for the NFL Network. He attended the University of South Carolina, and played from 1988 to 1994 with the Green Bay Packers.-Early life:...
who averaged 85 receptions per season. He had previously been averaging 93 per season until 2007, where he missed the majority of games with a knee injury, resulting in a 20 reception season.
- 4th most touchdown receptions in a decade (95) 2000–2009
- 3rd most receiving yards per game throughout a career (76.7 yds/game)
- 2nd most receiving yards in a decade (10,439) 2000–2009
- Holds the NFL record for receptions in a single season with 143, set in 2002.
- Most receptions in a 2 season period (252), 2001–2002; 3 season period (354), 2000–2002; 4 season period (469), 1999–2002; 5 season period (563), 1999–2003; 6 season period (649), 1999–2004; 7 season period (731), 1999–2005; 8 season period (826), 1999–2006; 9 season period (885), 1998–2006; 10 season period (958), 1997–2006; 11 season period (1,022), 1996–2006.
- Most receiving yards in a 4 season period (6,322), 1999–2002; 5 season period (7,594), 1999–2003.
- Most games with at least 8 receptions (51), 9 receptions (32), 11 receptions (12), 12 receptions (8), 13 receptions (4)
- Most games with at least 14 receptions (2)-tied with Brandon Marshall
-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
, Jerry RiceJerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, Jason WittenChristopher Jason Witten is an American football tight end who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Tennessee....
, Jimmy Smith, Kellen WinslowKellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
- Most consecutive games with at least 6 receptions (16) and 9 receptions (6)
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 5 touchdowns (11) – shared with Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, Don HutsonDonald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
, Cris CarterCristopher D. Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins ....
, Tim Brown
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 6 touchdowns (11) – shared with Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, Don HutsonDonald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 5 touchdown receptions (11) – shared with Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, Don HutsonDonald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
, Cris CarterCristopher D. Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins ....
, Tim Brown
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 6 touchdown receptions (11) – shared with Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, Don HutsonDonald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 10 touchdown receptions (8)
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 11 touchdown receptions (4)-tied with Lance Alworth
Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, Art Powell-Early career:Powell attended and played high school football at San Diego High School and played college football at San José State University.-Professional career:...
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 14 touchdown receptions (2)-tied with Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
- Consecutive seasons with 1,400+ receiving yards (4); 1999–2002
- Consecutive seasons with 100+ receptions (4)
- Consecutive seasons with 82+ receptions (8); 1999–2006.
- Most games in a single season (2002) with at least 6 receptions (15), 7 receptions (12), 8 receptions (12), 9 receptions (10), 11 receptions (5).
- 3rd most games in a single season with 10+ receptions (6). Wes Welker
-San Diego Chargers :Welker, who was not drafted during the 2004 NFL Draft, signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. Welker made the Chargers out of training camp, but was released after the first game of the season.-2004 season:...
and Andre JohnsonAndre Lamont Johnson is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Through the 2010–11 NFL season, Johnson currently ranks first all-time in NFL history in receiving yards per game for a career...
have 7.
- Only player with 16 career games with double digit receptions for one team, Indianapolis Colts.
- Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
currently hold the record for most receptions between a Wide ReceiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and QuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
with 953.
- Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for receiving touchdowns between a WR and QB with 112.
- Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for receiving yards between a WR and QB with 12,756.
- Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for receptions in a season between a WR and QB with 143, 2002
- Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for receiving yards in a season between a WR and QB with 1,722, 2002
- Harrison trails only Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
in 1,500 or more receiving yard seasons. He has 3 such seasons, Jerry Rice had 4.
- First player to record 2 seasons of 1,600 yards receiving in NFL history, (1999 & 2002).(Torry Holt
After injuring his knee at the Senior Bowl, Holt, at 192 pounds, ran a 4.44 second 40-yard dash and had a vertical jump of 37 inches at the 1999 NFL Combine-St. Louis Rams:...
became the 2nd, (2000 & 2003)
- First player to have 50+ receptions in his first 11 seasons in NFL history.(Torry Holt
After injuring his knee at the Senior Bowl, Holt, at 192 pounds, ran a 4.44 second 40-yard dash and had a vertical jump of 37 inches at the 1999 NFL Combine-St. Louis Rams:...
became the 2nd on December 27, 2009)
- With 59 career 100-yard receiving games, Marvin Harrison ranks No. 3 all time behind Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
(76) and Randy MossRandy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
(64).
- Second-fastest player to achieve 100 receiving touchdowns.
- Consecutive seasons of 1,000+ all-purpose yards and 10+ touchdown receptions (8), 1999–2006.
- On December 18, 2006, Marvin Harrison and Indianapolis Colt teammate Reggie Wayne
Reginald "Reggie" Wayne is a professional American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Wayne was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Colts...
became the only NFL wide receiver tandem to catch 75 receptions and 1,000 yards in 3 straight seasons. The game was on Monday NightMonday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
and was played against the Cincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
- On November 17, 2002, made his 600th career reception against the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
- On October 12, 2003, made his 700th career reception against the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in 114 games.
- On November 8, 2004, made his 800th career reception against the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in 131 games.
- On November 20, 2005, made his 900th career reception against the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in 149 career games.
- On December 10, 2006, made his 1000th reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in just 167 career games.
- On December 28, 2008, made his 1,100th career reception against the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in his last regular season game and his last game in Indianapolis. He is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in just 190 career games. Half way through the second quarter, he moved into second place for most receptions all time with 1,102, trailing only Jerry Rice.
- Most receptions over 1st 7 seasons (665), 8 seasons (759), 9 seasons (845), 10 seasons (927), 11 seasons (1,022) and 13 seasons (1,102) seasons of career of any NFL receiver
- Only player in NFL history to catch a pass in every game
- Most consecutive games with 8+ receiving yards (190), (206 if counting playoffs) – every game
- Most consecutive games with a 6+ yard reception (190), (206 if counting playoffs) – every game
- Most consecutive games with an 8+ yard reception (177), (192 if counting playoffs)
- Marvin Harrison is in second place for the most consecutive games with a reception with 190 (206 counting playoffs), only behind Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
who had 274.
Connections to shooting incidents
Harrison was sued by Dwight Dixon, a convicted drug dealer who was shot outside Chuckie's Garage, a North Philadelphia business owned by Harrison, on April 29, 2008. The two men had two altercations earlier in the day when Harrison denied Dixon entry into a sports bar he owned and operated. Dixon alleged that Harrison was the gunman who shot at him. On January 6, 2009, Philadelphia District Attorney
Lynne AbrahamLynne Abraham served as the District Attorney of the City of Philadelphia from May 1991 to January 2010. She was the first woman to serve as Philadelphia's District Attorney. Abraham won election to that position four times. As District Attorney, she oversaw the largest district attorney's office...
confirmed that it was Harrison's gun that fired shots at Dixon but they had been unable to determine who pulled the trigger.
The Philadelphia District Attorney also stated that she was not going to pursue charges in this case due to conflicting witness statements. Dixon, who had initially given the police a false name and claimed he was robbed by two men when interviewed at the hospital, was subsequently convicted of filing a false report for this incident on January 28, 2009. He was sentenced to 6 months probation. Dixon's attorney reportedly sought a new trial as the conviction violated Dixon's parole in an unrelated case. Harrison is also being sued by Robert Nixon, a victim caught in the crossfire of the shooting who identified Harrison as the shooter in a statement to police.
Dixon died on July 21, 2009 when he was shot several times while in his car outside a building two blocks away from Harrison's sports bar. On June 16, 2010, Shaun Assael of ESPN The Magazine reports that police confiscated a 9mm handgun from Harrison during a routine traffic stop on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Police will test the gun to see if it matches three spent 9mm shell casings that ended up inside the truck driven by the late Dwight Dixon at the scene of an April 2008 shooting. Dixon, who eventually was shot and killed after filing a civil lawsuit, claimed that the casings came from a second gun that Harrison fired. Authorities already have matched other bullets to a separate gun that Harrison owns—and that he admitted was in his possession on the day the shooting occurred. Police found the gun during a search of Harrison's Escalade. The stop occurred as Harrison drove the vehicle the wrong way on a one-way street. Harrison claimed he did not have a gun. But police believed they saw Harrison put what appeared to be a weapon in the console between the two front seats. They concluded that they had probable cause to search the vehicle, and they found the gun. The FBI has become involved in the investigation.
External links