Thread: Chris Harris tweets retirement

Great new and great to have him back. He was always one of those who maxed out on his effort and what talent he had. He'll make a great assistant. Welcome back Chris!

Source: Bears add Harris to staff

January, 28, 2013 Jan 28
3:30
PM CT

By Michael C. Wright | ESPNChicago.com






Former Chicago Bears safety Chris Harris announced his retirement over the weekend, only to make a quick return to the NFL as a defensive quality control coach for the Bears, a source confirmed.

The Chicago Tribune reported the news earlier Monday.

The Bears also hired Sean Desai as a defensive quality control coach and Dwayne Stukes as assistant special teams coach.

Selected by Chicago in the sixth round out of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Harris spent two stints with the Bears. His first lasted two seasons before the club traded him to the Carolina Panthers. Harris rejoined the Bears in 2010 through another trade with the Panthers.

Harris rewarded the Bears that season with 96 tackles and a career-high five interceptions, which tied for third in the NFL among safeties, on his way to earning All-Pro recognition.

The Bears released Harris the next season, however, and he signed with the Detroit Lions, where he played eight games before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012.

With the Jaguars, Harris played under recently hired Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

On Jan. 18, Harris had already made up his mind about retiring and was looking for a way to break into the coaching field in the NFL. Harris’ familiarity with the Bears and Tucker likely played a role in the former safety making his return to the team.

In 101 career games over eight years, Harris intercepted 16 passes, in addition to posting 365 tackles. Harris also forced 14 fumbles and broke up 39 passes.

This is just weird.

I like that. Harris was good as player because of his head and knowledge, not the skills. Others had better skills than him. Good to bring him back.

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

I like that. Harris was good as player because of his head and knowledge, not the skills. Others had better skills than him. Good to bring him back.

He also studied a lot of game film as a player and that helped him maximize his talent. I believe that the injury bug led him to retire and that the Bears looked at his body of work as a player / student of the game and think that could translate well as a entry level coach who will study film for the DC and help with game planning. Good hire IMHO.

I think I may be in the minority here as I really do not remember him being that good. Perhaps some memory jogging for myself would help. I recall his first stint in Chicago being a young kid that didn't know how to wrap up on his tackles and opting for the Sports Center highlight hits instead. I also remember him taking bad angles repeatedly and I remember him getting benched in his second stint and going to twitter to whine to get traded mid-season.

That said, I really don't think this is about him as a player as much as it is giving him a chance to break into coaching at an entry level position with players that he already knows and a DC that he played with, thus helping to be an intermediary between the old vets and the new DC. I don't see a problem with that at all and it's probably a pretty nice (albeit very minor) move.

He improved his game a lot playing in Carolina and in 2010 he made a couple of "lunchbucket" All Pro lists and he deserved it. His game just fell apart the next year for a bit and he ended up in Lovie's dog house and we all know what that's like. Once you're there it's tough to get out.

Good for C.H. but I wonder if Mike Brown would have been interested.