Tommie Harris Jr., born on April 29, 1983, in Killeen, Texas, is a former University of Oklahoma defensive tackle. Tommie also played for eight seasons in the National Football League and is renowned for his accomplishments on and off the field.

 

Harris started his football journey at Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas, where he became one of the nation’s top defensive high school prospects. While attending OU, Harris played for coach Bob Stoop from 2001 to 2003. He was one of the few players in OU history to start every game of his true freshman season. In his junior and final season as a Sooner, Harris won the Lombardi Award in 2003 and became a consensus All-American twice.

 

The Chicago Bears selected Harris in the first round, 14th overall pick, of the 2004 NFL Draft, and he played for the Bears from 2004 to 2010. In 2004, he finished second in balloting for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In only his second NFL season, Harris was selected for the 2006 Pro Bowl for the first time and became a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Harris was well suited for coach Lovie Smith’s version of the Tampa 2 defense, which relies on quick, mobile linemen to get pressure on the quarterback. He played in 104 games, recording 213 tackles and 28.5 sacks.

 

After his time with the Bears, Harris signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts before joining the San Diego Chargers in late September 2011. Harris played 13 games with the Chargers, recording 13 tackles and three sacks.

 

Now, Tommie Harris spends his off-field time giving back to the community and raising his two children. He continues to win off the field by staying active and being involved with non-profits that give back to the community and the world. In 2023, he launched a campaign entitled The Locker Room, a series of empowerment sessions targeted towards youth and men of all races, reminding them that they can win against the odds.