Jackie Harris is a former American football player who played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. Harris was born on February 4, 1965, in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, and attended Northeast Louisiana University, where he played college football.
Harris began his professional football career in 1990 when he was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He quickly established himself as a reliable tight end, and in his rookie season, he caught 25 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Harris continued to improve in his second season, catching 34 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns.
In 1992, Harris had a breakout season, catching 62 passes for 751 yards and six touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl that year, and he helped lead the Packers to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. Harris continued to be a key player for the Packers over the next few seasons, catching 50 or more passes in each of the next three seasons.
In 1995, Harris signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. He had another productive season, catching 62 passes for 751 yards and six touchdowns. However, the Buccaneers struggled as a team, finishing with a 7-9 record.
Harris played for the Buccaneers for two more seasons before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 1998. He played for the Seahawks for two seasons, catching 50 passes for 512 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the team. However, his production declined in his second season, and he was released by the Seahawks in 2000.
Harris signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2000 and played for the team for one season. He caught 22 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown in his only season with the Cowboys. Harris retired from the NFL after the 2001 season.
Throughout his career, Harris was known for his reliable hands and his ability to make tough catches in traffic. He was also a solid blocker and was often used as a safety valve for his quarterbacks. Harris finished his career with 393 receptions for 4,213 yards and 28 touchdowns.
After retiring from football, Harris worked as a high school football coach in Louisiana. He also worked as a color commentator for college football games on television. Harris was inducted into the Northeast Louisiana University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
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