Al Harris NFL Career Overview
Al Harris is a former NFL cornerback who played 14 seasons in the league. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft after playing college football at Arizona State University. Harris played for the Bears, Eagles, Vikings, and Packers, earning a reputation as a physical press corner with ball-hawking instincts. His career highlights include four Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl XLV victory with the Green Bay Packers. He retired after the 2011 season and later served as an assistant coach for the Packers. For more details on his career timeline, see this career summary on Pro Football Reference.
Harris accumulated 58 interceptions and 15 defensive touchdowns over his career, according to official NFL statistics. His peak seasons came with the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, where he anchored the secondary alongside Darrelle Revis and Charles Woodson. He signed a four-year, $23.75 million contract extension with the Packers in 2009, which made him one of the highest-paid corners at the time. His annual salary during that deal averaged roughly $5.9 million, a benchmark for veteran cornerbacks in the late 2000s. More contract data is available on Spotrac's contract page.
Al Harris NFL Contract and Salary Details
Contract Breakdown
Harris's most notable NFL contract was the four-year extension he signed with the Green Bay Packers in March 2009. The deal included $13 million guaranteed and a total value of $23.75 million, making him a top-five cornerback by salary at the time. His base salary for the 2010 season was $5.5 million, with a cap hit of $6.1 million. In 2011, his final season, his base salary dropped to $4 million while his cap number was $5.2 million. This structure reflected standard veteran incentive clauses and roster bonus mechanics common in NFL contracts of that era. Detailed salary figures are listed on OverTheCap's player page.
Before the 2009 extension, Harris earned a three-year, $15 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. That deal included $7 million guaranteed and an average annual value of $5 million. His earlier contracts with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles were shorter and less lucrative, reflecting his development from a first-round pick to a proven starter. Across his entire career, Harris earned an estimated $48 million in NFL salary, according to public contract databases. His earnings placed him in the upper tier of cornerbacks during the 2000s and early 2010s.
Al Harris NFL Legacy and Current Status
Post-Retirement Role
After retiring in 2011, Harris remained connected to the NFL as a coaching intern and assistant with the Green Bay Packers. He worked with the defensive backs group, applying his experience in press coverage and man-to-man techniques. Harris has not held a full-time coaching position on a permanent staff as of the latest available public records, but he remains a respected figure in Packers alumni circles. His career is frequently cited in discussions about elite shutdown corners from the 2000s.
Harris's career is often compared to other top-tier corners of his generation, including Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey