Nick Harris (punter)

This article is about the punter. For the linebacker, see Nic Harris. For the offensive lineman, see Nick Harris (offensive lineman).

Nicholas John Harris (born July 23, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting the NCAA record for career punting yardage and earning consensus All-American honors. The Denver Broncos chose him in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft, and he has played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers of the NFL.

Nick Harris

No. 8, 2, 5
Position:	Punter
Personal information
Born:	(1978-07-23) July 23, 1978 (age 46) Avondale, Arizona, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:	Westview (Avondale)
College:	California
NFL draft:	2001 / round: 4 / pick: 120
Career history
Denver Broncos (2001)* Cincinnati Bengals (2001−2003) Detroit Lions (2003−2010) Jacksonville Jaguars (2011) Carolina Panthers (2012)* Detroit Lions (2012)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (2000) First-team All-Pac-10 (2000) Second-team All-Pac-10 (1999)
Career NFL statistics
Punts: 943 Average punt: 42.4 Longest punt: 67 Punts inside 20: 260 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life and education

Harris was born in Avondale, Arizona. He attended Westview High School in Avondale, where he played for the Westview Knights high school football team. He earned National Coaches' Association All-America honors as a senior with 42.3-yard punting average. He Also earned prep all-state honors as a linebacker and saw action on offense as a receiver and a rusher. He was also an All-state prep soccer player as well.

Harris attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played for the California Golden Bears from 1997 to 2000. He averaged 42.3 yards per punt, and his 13,621 total yards was an NCAA record. His 322 career punts is also an NCAA record. As a junior in 1999, he had a 44.7 yard average. As a senior in 2000, he was recognized as consensus first-team All-American.^[1]

Harris graduated with a bachelor's degree in American studies and later with a master's degree in education.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight
6 ft 1+3⁄4 in (1.87 m)	221 lb (100 kg)
Values from NFL Combine[2]

Denver Broncos

Harris was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos, where he was later waived.^[3]

Cincinnati Bengals

In 2001, the Bengals signed him off of waivers. He was released during the 2003 season.

Detroit Lions

The Lions signed Harris October 14, 2003 as a replacement for the injured John Jett and he established himself as the Lions punter for the remainder of the season. In 2005, he was named the Special Teams MVP by The Detroit Lions Quarterback Club, the official booster club of the Lions. On September 3, 2011, Harris was released by the Detroit Lions in favor for Ryan Donahue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On October 11, 2011, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. On April 28, 2012, the Jacksonville Jaguars released Harris.

Carolina Panthers

Harris signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 7, 2012. He was released on August 27, 2012.^[4]

Second stint with the Detroit Lions

Harris was signed by the Detroit Lions, for a second time, on September 25, 2012. The signing came after Ben Graham was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list.

Life after football

Following his football career, Nick Harris earned a Masters of Divinity degree in Christian Theology. In 2015, he began a teaching career at Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek, California, serving as a Church History and Hermeneutics teacher. In 2019, Harris was hired as the school's principal.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	Punting
		GP	Punts	Yds	Net Yds	Lng	Avg	Net Avg	Blk	Ins20	TB
2001	CIN	16	84	3,372	2,878	57	40.1	33.9	1	21	6
2002	CIN	15	65	2,608	2,074	57	40.1	31.4	1	11	4
2003	CIN	5	28	1,084	841	53	38.7	30.0	0	5	3
	DET	11	63	2,531	2,116	51	40.2	33.1	1	11	5
2004	DET	16	92	3,765	3,184	60	40.9	34.2	1	32	7
2005	DET	16	84	3,656	3,096	60	43.5	36.9	0	34	2
2006	DET	16	66	2,967	2,520	67	45.0	38.2	0	18	9
2007	DET	16	68	3,010	2,476	58	44.3	36.4	0	26	5
2008	DET	16	90	3,952	3,418	66	43.9	38.0	0	24	6
2009	DET	16	74	3,175	2,721	56	42.9	36.8	0	20	5
2010	DET	16	90	4,018	3,225	66	44.6	35.8	0	24	8
2011	JAX	11	72	3,075	2,729	55	42.7	37.9	0	13	5
2012	DET	13	67	2,783	2,522	58	41.5	37.6	0	21	1
Career		183	943	39,996	33,800	67	42.4	35.7	4	260	66

References

1. 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
2. "2001 NFL Draft Scout Nick Harris College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
3. "2001 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
4. "Panthers cut Olindo Mare, Nick Harris". ESPN. August 27, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.