Cliff Harris
Encyclopedia
Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional
American football
safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys
of the National Football League
for ten seasons.
out of NAIA
school Ouachita Baptist University
, but the Cowboys found him and invited him to training camp. He beat out Cowboys third-round draft choice Charlie Waters
(who did not crack the starting lineup until the retirement of Cornell Green following the 1974 season) for the free safety position his rookie year. Military obligation caused him to miss the second half the season, although he returned in time for the Cowboys' victory in Super Bowl VI
over the Miami Dolphins
. He continued as starting safety until his retirement following the 1979 season. During his career he made five Super Bowl
appearances, was chosen for the Pro Bowl
six consecutive times and was voted All-Pro four times.
Harris was nicknamed "Captain Crash" by his teammates for his reckless pursuit of ball carriers. Pro Football Hall of Fame
safety Larry Wilson
said of Harris, "I feel Harris is the finest free safety in the business today. He changed the way the position is being played. You see other teams modeling their free safeties around the way Harris plays the pass, and striking fear in everyone on the field because he hits so hard." Harris made it a point to wear the pads of place kickers in order to keep his speed and quickness up.
Cowboy fans were surprised when Harris announced his retirement following the 1979 season at the age of 31 to concentrate on his business ventures. He is in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and Sports Illustrated
writers named him their Dream Team free safety. In 2004, he was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
. He was added to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
in 2004.
He and teammate Waters wrote a book about their Cowboy memories called Tales From the Dallas Cowboys. Outside of football, he works with Charlie Waters at a gas marketing company.
Harris finished his ten NFL seasons with 29 interceptions, which he returned for 281 yards and one touchdown
, and 18 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 91 yards. He also gained 418 yards on punt returns and 1,622 yards returning kickoffs.
football team in 2009 as a safety.
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
American football
American football
American 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...
safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys
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...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for ten seasons.
Professional career
Harris was not chosen in the 1970 NFL Draft1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
out of NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
school Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University is a private, liberal arts, undergraduate institution located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, which is about 65 miles southwest of Little Rock. The university's name is taken from the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern campus boundary. It is affiliated with the Arkansas...
, but the Cowboys found him and invited him to training camp. He beat out Cowboys third-round draft choice Charlie Waters
Charlie Waters
Charlie Tutan Waters is a former American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970-1981 in the National Football League...
(who did not crack the starting lineup until the retirement of Cornell Green following the 1974 season) for the free safety position his rookie year. Military obligation caused him to miss the second half the season, although he returned in time for the Cowboys' victory in Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
over the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He continued as starting safety until his retirement following the 1979 season. During his career he made five Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
appearances, was chosen for the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
six consecutive times and was voted All-Pro four times.
Harris was nicknamed "Captain Crash" by his teammates for his reckless pursuit of ball carriers. Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
safety Larry Wilson
Larry Wilson
Larry Frank Wilson is a former American football free safety who played for the St. Louis Cardinals.Wilson attended Rigby High School, where a plaque now hangs noting his accomplishments...
said of Harris, "I feel Harris is the finest free safety in the business today. He changed the way the position is being played. You see other teams modeling their free safeties around the way Harris plays the pass, and striking fear in everyone on the field because he hits so hard." Harris made it a point to wear the pads of place kickers in order to keep his speed and quickness up.
Cowboy fans were surprised when Harris announced his retirement following the 1979 season at the age of 31 to concentrate on his business ventures. He is in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writers named him their Dream Team free safety. In 2004, he was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. He was added to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
The Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor was a ring around Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas and currently around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas which honors former players, coaches and club officials who made outstanding contributions to the Dallas Cowboys football organization. The Ring of Honor began...
in 2004.
He and teammate Waters wrote a book about their Cowboy memories called Tales From the Dallas Cowboys. Outside of football, he works with Charlie Waters at a gas marketing company.
Harris finished his ten NFL seasons with 29 interceptions, which he returned for 281 yards and one touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
, and 18 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 91 yards. He also gained 418 yards on punt returns and 1,622 yards returning kickoffs.
Personal life
Cliff Harris's son, Matt Harris, was a starter for the Arkansas RazorbacksArkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
football team in 2009 as a safety.