Alshinard Harris (born December 7, 1974) is an American professional football coach and former player who is the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Harris played as a cornerback for 14 seasons in the NFL from 1998 to 2011. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams. He was selected for the Pro Bowl after his 2007 and 2008 seasons in Green Bay. The AP also named him a second team All-Pro in 2007.
Harris was known throughout the league for his physical, bump and run coverage style and was also known for his long, stringy dreadlocks, influencing others in the NFL. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL draft. He played college football for the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas.
College career Harris spent two seasons (1993–94) at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, where he was a member of the 1994 national championship team. He then transferred to Texas A&M University–Kingsville where he was a two-year starter and letterman (1995–96). Harris was a first-team All-Lone Star Conference pick in 1996.
Professional career Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Harris in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 1997 NFL draft. He was the 26th cornerback picked and was one of two cornerbacks selected by the Buccaneers in 1997, following third Round pick (97th overall) Ronde Barber. He was the 40th player selected from Texas A&M–Kingsville since 1967.
On July 1, 1997, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Harris to a rookie contract. He entered training camp as a backup and competed for a roster spot against Tyrone Legette, Ronde Barber, and undrafted rookie Floyd Young. On August 24, 1997, the Buccaneers released Harris and placed him on waivers. On August 26, 1997, the Buccaneers assigned him to their practice squad after he cleared waivers. He remained on the practice squad throughout the entire 1997 NFL season.
He returned to training camp as a backup cornerback and was on the bubble, competing for the last roster spot as a cornerback against Ronde Barber and Floyd Young. The Buccaneers had retained starting cornerbacks Donnie Abraham and Anthony Parker and also selected Brian Kelly in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft. On August 30, 1998, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Harris as part of their final roster cuts.
Philadelphia Eagles 1998 On August 31, 1998, the Philadelphia Eagles claimed Harris and acquired him after he cleared waivers. Head coach Ray Rhodes immediately named Harris the No. 2 starting cornerback for the upcoming season-opener in six days after Bobby Taylor was placed on injured reserve after fracturing his scapula during their third preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. During the first quarter, Taylor made an interception and landed awkwardly on his shoulder as he fell to the turf and was expected to remain inactive for six–eight weeks. The Eagles only two backup cornerbacks were rookies Clarence Love and Allen Rossum. He would begin the season starting alongside Troy Vincent.
On September 6, 1998, Harris made his professional regular season debut and earned his first career start in the Philadelphia Eagles' home opener against the Seattle Seahawks and recorded four solo tackles as they lost 36–0. In Week 3, he set a season-high with six solo tackles and two pass deflections during a 3–17 loss at the Arizona Cardinals. He remained the No. 2 starting cornerback for the first five games before Bobby Taylor reclaimed his role after he had recovered from his injury. On December 28, 1998, the Philadelphia Eagles officially fired head coach Ray Rhodes after they finished the 1998 NFL season with a disappointing 3–13 record. He finished the season with 41 combined tackles (40 solo) and seven pass deflections in 16 games and seven starts. 1999 On January 11, 1999, the Philadelphia Eagles hired Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Andy Reid as their new head coach. The Packers coincidentally hired Ray Rhodes to be their new head coach on the same day. Throughout training camp, he competed against Bobby Taylor for the role as the No. 2 starting cornerback under new defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. He was named the starting nickelback and was listed as the No. 3 cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season, behind Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor.
On September 12, 1999, Harris started in the Eagles' home opener against the Arizona Cardinals and made five solo tackles, two pass deflections, and had his first career interception off a pass by Jake Plummer to wide receiver Frank Sanders during a 25–24 loss. In Week 5, he recorded one solo tackle and set a season-high with four pass deflections as the Eagles defeated the Dallas Cowboy 10–13.
On November 6, 1999, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Harris to a five—year contract extension. With one—year remaining on his previous contract, Harris was signed for the six—years throughout the 2004 NFL season. In Week 10, Harris made two solo tackles, two pass deflections, and helped lead a fourth quarter comeback 28–35 victory against the Washington Redskins by intercepting a pass by Brad Johnson to wide receiver Albert Connell with less than five minutes left losing 28–27. Running back Eric Bieniemy would run for an 11–yard touchdown on the next drive to gain the lead 28–35 with 3:17 remaining. In Week 15, Harris made four combined tackles (two solo), had two pass breakups, and intercepted a pass thrown by Drew Bledsoe as the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 9–24. On January 2, 2000, Harris made one solo tackle, a pass deflection, and secured a 31–38 victory against the St. Louis Rams by intercepting a pass by Joe Germaine to running back Robert Holcombe and returning it 17–yards to score the first touchdown of his career with 1:20 remaining to increase their lead by 14 points to lead the Rams 24–38. This marked Harris's first career touchdown and his first pick-six, while also setting his career-high with four interceptions in a single season. He finished the 1999 NFL season with 38 combined tackles (33 solo), 15 pass deflections, four interceptions, and one touchdown in 16 games and six starts. He lined up as the nickelback throughout the season and had three starts at nickelback, with the other three as an injury replacement at outside cornerback. 2000 The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2000 NFL season in their second season under head coach Andy Reid and second-year quarterback Donovan McNabb. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson retained Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, and Al Harris at cornerback and Brian Dawkins at free safety, with Damon Moore replacing Tim Hauck at strong safety. In Week 15, Harris set a season-high with four solo tackles during a 35–24 victory at the Cleveland Browns. He finished the season with only 27 combined tackles (25 solo) and three pass deflections in 16 games and four starts. He was starting at nickelback throughout the entire season with Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent starting all 16 games at outside corner.
The Philadelphia Eagles went from a 5–11 record in 1999 to an 11–5 record in 2000, finishing in second in the NFC East. On December 31, 2000, Harris appeared in the first playoff game of his career and recorded two solo tackles and had one pass break-up as the Eagles routed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Veterans Stadium 3–21 in the NFC Wild-Card Game. They were eliminated from the playoffs the following week after losing 10–20 at the New York Giants in the Divisional Round.
2001 He returned as the primary nickelback in 2001 and remained as the third cornerback on the depth chart behind Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. On September 30, 2001, Harris recorded two solo tackles, three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Anthony Wright to wide receiver Joey Galloway as the Eagles routed the Dallas Cowboys 18–40. In Week 12, he made two solo tackles, had one pass breakup, and secured a 23–10 victory at the Kansas City Chiefs by intercepting a pass by Trent Green to wide receiver Larry Parker with 3:09 remaining. He finished the season with 22 combined tackles (20 solo), 12 pass deflections, and made two interceptions in 16 games and two starts.
2002 The Philadelphia Eagles selected two cornerbacks in the 2002 NFL draft, including first round pick (26th overall) Lito Sheppard and second round pick (59th overall) Sheldon Brown. Head coach Andy Reid retained Harris as the starting nickelback and third cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season, behind returning starters Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor.
On September 8, 2002, Harris started in the Eagles' season opener at the Tennessee Titans in place of Troy Vincent, after he injured his knee during practice. Harris set a season-high with six solo tackles as they lost 24–27. On October 20, 2002, Harris set a season-high with three pass deflections and had his only interception of the season on a pass by Brad Johnson to wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson as the Eagles defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10—20. He finished the 2002 NFL season with 27 combined tackles (22 solo), 17 pass deflections, and one interception in 16 games and two starts. He completed his fifth season without having missed a single regular season game yet and extended his streak of regular season games to 80 games in-a-row.
Green Bay Packers 2003 On February 27, 2003, the Philadelphia Eagles traded Harris and a fourth round pick (120th overall) in the 2003 NFL draft to the Green Bay Packers in return for their 2003 second round selection (62nd overall). General Manager/Head Coach Mike Sherman had been an assistant coach alongside Eagles' Vice President of Football Operations/Head Coach Andy Reid from 1997–1998 under Mike Holmgren for the Green Bay Packers. Entering training camp, it was expected that Harris would takeover as a starting cornerback following the departure of Tyrone Williams. Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell began the season with Harris and Mike McKenzie.
On September 14, 2003, Harris made two solo tackles, one pass deflection, and had a pick-six by intercepting a pass by Joey Harrington to wide receiver Casey Fitzsimmons during a 6–31 victory against the Detroit Lions. In Week 5, he set a season-high with seven combined tackles (six solo) and had two pass break-ups as the Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 35–13. In Week 17, Harris made two solo tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Jarious Jackson to wide receiver Nate Jackson as the Packers routed the Denver Broncos 31–3. He started all 16 games for the first time in his career and made 48 combined tackles (46 solo), 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions.