Tuff Harris
Encyclopedia
Chester David "Tuff" Harris (born January 23, 1983 in Crow Agency, Montana
) is an American football
safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
at Montana
.
Harris has also been a member of the New Orleans Saints
and Tennessee Titans
.
, Harris was signed by the Miami Dolphins
as an undrafted free agent on May 3. He was waived during final cuts on September 1 and re-signed to the team's practice squad, where he remained until being promoted to the active roster on November 14. He made his NFL debut in the regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals
on December 30.
Harris was waived by the Dolphins the following offseason on April 24, 2008.
signed Harris on May 27, 2008. He was released by the team on July 30 from ankle injuries
on August 19, 2008. He was waived on August 29 and re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 1. Harris was signed from the practice squad to the active roster on November 22 after cornerback
s Reynaldo Hill
and Eric King were placed on injured reserve
.
The Titans waived Harris on September 4, 2009.
practice squad on September 7, 2009. He was signed to active roster on January 6, 2010.
Pittsburgh waived Harris on August 8, 2010.
Crow Agency, Montana
Crow Agency is a census-designated place in Big Horn County, Montana, United States and is near the actual location for the Little Bighorn National Monument and re-enactment known as Custer's Last Stand...
) is an 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 for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
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...
. He was signed by 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...
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
College football
College 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 Montana
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
.
Harris has also been a member of the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and Tennessee Titans
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...
.
Early years
Harris grew up in Lodge Grass also known as Valley of the Chiefs. He is a member of the Crow Nation. During his years at Lodge Grass High School, Harris played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. His mother was an assistant coach for the track and field team. Harris’s family moved to Colstrip after his sophomore year. After moving from Lodge Grass to Colstrip, Harris continued playing football, basketball, and track for the Colstrip Colts. In 2001, Tuff set an all-class Montana High School state record in the 100-meter dash.College career
After graduating in 2002, Harris went to school at the University of Montana and was a four-year starter at cornerback for the Grizzlies and set school records as a punt returner (including longest return and most return yards in one game).Miami Dolphins
After going undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
, Harris was signed by 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...
as an undrafted free agent on May 3. He was waived during final cuts on September 1 and re-signed to the team's practice squad, where he remained until being promoted to the active roster on November 14. He made his NFL debut in the regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals
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...
on December 30.
Harris was waived by the Dolphins the following offseason on April 24, 2008.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
signed Harris on May 27, 2008. He was released by the team on July 30 from ankle injuries
Tennessee Titans
Harris was signed by the Tennessee TitansTennessee 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...
on August 19, 2008. He was waived on August 29 and re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 1. Harris was signed from the practice squad to the active roster on November 22 after cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
s Reynaldo Hill
Reynaldo Hill
Reynaldo Romel Hill is a American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League for four seasons. Hill played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL...
and Eric King were placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
.
The Titans waived Harris on September 4, 2009.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Harris was signed to the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
practice squad on September 7, 2009. He was signed to active roster on January 6, 2010.
Pittsburgh waived Harris on August 8, 2010.