Anthony Harris’ journey to the NFL is a testament to the fact that going undrafted is not the end of the world. Despite the initial disappointment that comes with not being selected in the draft, Harris has proven that there are always new opportunities to achieve success in the NFL as a professional athlete.
Starting out as a practice squad player, Harris has worked tirelessly to earn his place on two NFL rosters. Through determination and a relentless work ethic, he has earned the respect of his coaches and teammates, and is now preparing to compete for a Super Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles after a win against 49ers in the NFC Championship.
Harris’ story is an inspiration to those who have faced similar setbacks in their own careers. It demonstrates that success can be achieved through hard work and perseverance and that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Whether you are an aspiring NFL player or pursuing a different career path, the lessons learned from Harris’ journey can be applied to any situation. So, don’t give up on your dreams just because things didn’t go as planned. Instead, encourage and embrace the challenge and keep pushing forward.
Harris was the starter in the secondary for the Eagles before they were able to sweep up Chauncey Gardner Johnson from the New Orleans Saints. In that year as the starter, Harris led the entire secondary in tackles with 72 throughout the 2021 campaign. While unfortunate, the trade to bring in Johnson sent Harris onto the practice squad. However, he’s been a reliable veteran and mentor to the younger guys back there throughout the year. He hasn’t kicked and screamed his way off the team, instead, he’s embracing the new role that he’s been given and working his way onto the field again. Just the fact that he was activated throughout the week as they prepared to play in the Divisional Round and again in the NFC Championship shows that the coaching staff trust him and feel comfortable having him around in case things go wrong.
Harris has always worked for the things he’s gotten in the NFL as a professional athlete. Anybody that knows him understands that, especially his current fiancée, Paige Bieker. Ahead of the NFC Championship game against the 49ers, Bieker took to social media to share that she was hitting the gym in order to walk the nerves out. She later shared pictures of her tailgating and cheering for Harris and the rest of the Eagles squad that just secured themselves a shot in the Super Bowl.
Harris himself also celebrated the win on social media right after the game concluded. He posted a video saying, “God is good. We ain’t done yet.” A few days later he also captioned a post, “I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.” It’s clear that Harris isn’t taking any of this Super Bowl run for granted. A Super Bowl championship to his name would be a perfect end to a hard-working season for him, and proof that even if you’re undrafted, you can still find a place to compete and become a champion. If there’s anybody that can tell you to never give up, it’s Harris.
Philadelphia has the opportunity to etch its name in history by winning the championship game, with Harris potentially being a part of this historic achievement. The status of Harris’ participation in the game is yet to be determined, but the Eagles may choose to activate him closer to the game or keep him on the practice squad. Nevertheless, recent weeks suggest that Harris should be part of the active roster for the year’s most important game.
