Legendary College &

NFL Pro Athlete Joe A. Harris

Joe A. Harris, born December 6, 1952, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a former American football linebacker whose integrity, perseverance, and disciplined approach to life trace back to his formative years in the Carolinas. Raised under the guidance of his grandfather, a farm owner in Apex, NC, Harris was instilled with conservative values and a strong work ethic rooted in faith, humility, and hard labor — lessons that shaped every chapter of his athletic and personal journey.

Joe attended E. E. Smith H.S. in Fayetteville, NC. He played linebacker. This was the beginning of the local community story, about “a legendary Joe Harris a young man who really played the game of football". Joe was honored and proud as a sophomore, to play with the varsity high school team as a starter, and is proud today, to say that he was taught the game by then, Coaches Bishop Harris, Coach William Carver, Coach D.T. Carter, and especially Coach "Ike" Walker.

A graduate of E.E. Smith High School, Harris emerged as a standout defensive leader at Georgia Tech, where his combination of power, preparation, and instinct cemented his reputation as one of the most productive linebackers in program history. Over his collegiate career, he recorded 415 tackles, including 188 in a single season, and went on to be inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (RamblinWreck.com, Georgia Tech Athletic Association, archived September 18, 2011).

Harris was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 8th round (197th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft, joining one of the most remarkable draft classes in team history. Led by Walter Payton, the legendary Jackson State running back who became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, the class also included Mike Hartenstine (Penn State), Virgil Livers (Western Kentucky), Revie Sorey (Illinois), Bob Avellini (Maryland), Tom Hicks (Illinois), Earl Douthitt (Iowa), Roger Stillwell (Stanford), Doug Plank (Ohio State), and fullback Roland Harper (Louisiana Tech) — a group that produced nine long-term starters and became a foundation of the Bears’ competitive revival in the late 1970s.​

Harris’s professional career spanned nine seasons across the NFL, CFL, and USFL, including time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Federals. His defining moment came as a member of the Los Angeles Rams during the 1979 NFL season, when he played a key defensive role in Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers — a game remembered for its physicality and courage as the Rams battled the reigning dynasty to a narrow finish.

Throughout his career, Harris exemplified consistency and professionalism, recording 12 sacks, 7 fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown at the top level. Yet, beyond the statistics, his story remains one of inherited values — from Apex’s rural fields to Georgia Tech’s discipline and the grand stage of the NFL.

Joe A. Harris stands as a reflection of American perseverance: a man whose life and achievements remind us that greatness is not measured only by fame, but by faith, fortitude, and fidelity to hard work.

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