Clifford Allen Harris (born November 12, 1948) was an American professional football player who played as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL) for ten years. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, participated in five Super Bowls, and was chosen to six consecutive Pro Bowls. Harris left football at the age of 31 to work in the oil industry.
Early life and college
Cliff Harris was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He began his football career as a backup quarterback at Hot Springs High School. For his senior season, he transferred to Des Arc High School.
After high school, Harris received a scholarship to Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) in Arkadelphia. His father’s roommate at Ouachita persuaded the head coach, Buddy Benson, to offer the scholarship. Harris’ father, O.J. “Buddy” Harris, also played football for OBU. In college, Cliff became a skilled defensive back. He played all positions in the secondary and was a strong kick returner. He was named to two All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) teams. He was also part of the 1966 AIC Football Championship team during his freshman year. Harris also joined the track and field team and earned a double major in math and physics.
Harris has been honored with many athletic awards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. He was also inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Ouachita Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
Professional career
Harris was not selected in the 1970 NFL draft, but the Cowboys invited him to training camp and he signed as a free agent. He was chosen over Cowboys third-round draft pick Charlie Waters (who did not make the starting lineup until after Cornell Green retired following the 1974 season) for the starting free safety position during his rookie year. Military service caused him to miss the second half of the season, but he returned in time for Super Bowl V and kept the position after 1971. Harris was a key player on the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI winning team the next season, intercepting 2 passes and recovering 3 fumbles. He also ranked third in the NFL with a 28.4 yards per kickoff return average.
Later, Harris and Waters became the top safety duo in the NFL during the 1970s. Harris chose to wear the pads of placekickers to help maintain his speed and quickness.
Harris won another Super Bowl with the Cowboys in the 1977 season, intercepting 5 passes that year. He also played in Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII, both of which the Cowboys lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This made Harris one of the few players to participate in all five of Dallas' Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s. In Super Bowl X, Harris gained attention after Steelers kicker Roy Gerela missed a field goal that would have tied the game. After the play, Harris laughed and hugged Gerela, then patted him on the helmet. This led to Harris being pushed hard to the ground by Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert. Gerela later made his next two field goal attempts and helped the Steelers win the game.
Harris was nicknamed "Captain Crash" by his teammates for his strong hits and determination to chase ball carriers. Hall of Fame head coach George Allen once described him as a "rolling ball of butcher knives." Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson said, "I believe Harris is the best free safety in the business today. He changed how the position is played. Other teams model their free safeties after him, and players fear him because he hits so hard." The Cowboys' defense ranked in the top 10 every year while Harris was on the team.
Harris is one of only 13 players in NFL history to play in five Super Bowls. He was selected to the Pro Bowl six years in a row and was voted First-team All-Pro four times. The Cowboys were surprised when Harris announced his retirement in March 1980 at age 31 to focus on his oil business. Sports Illustrated writers named him their Football Dream Team free safety. In 2004, he was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was added to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. He was also selected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team and the Cowboys Silver Season All-Time Team in 1984. In 2011, the Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) named Harris to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2011.
Over his ten NFL seasons, Harris recorded 29 interceptions, which he returned for 281 yards and one touchdown, and 16 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 91 yards. He also played on special teams early in his career, gaining 418 yards on punt returns and 1,622 yards on kickoff returns, with an average of 25.7 yards per kickoff return.
On January 15, 2020, Harris was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
Cliff Harris Award
The Cliff Harris Award is given to the best defensive player in the country who plays for Division II, III, or NAIA colleges and universities. The Selection Committee includes Roger Staubach, Lee Roy Jordan, Walt Garrison, Gene Stallings, Jackie Smith, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright, Everson Walls, Charlie Waters, Bill Bates, Gil Brandt, Mel Renfro, Jim Hart, and Harris himself.
The inaugural winner of the Cliff Harris Award in 2013 was defensive back Pierre Desir from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Desir was shown on ESPN's Draft Academy and was chosen in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns. The 2014 award was given to Darius Allen, a senior defensive end from Colorado State University-Pueblo who helped his team win their first-ever NCAA Division II national championship. The 2015 recipient was Marquis Christian, a former safety at Midwestern State University. The 2016 winner was Conner Harris, a senior linebacker at Lindenwood University and the top tackler in college football history.
Cliff Harris Stadium
In 2014, OBU honored Harris by naming its new football stadium "Cliff Harris Stadium." The stadium is decorated with the school's purple and gold colors and welcomes visitors coming to the OBU campus. It has over 500 reserved and premium seats as part of its total seating. Ouachita football, whose mascot is the Tiger, has a long tradition that started in 1895. The team plays in the Great American Conference, which is part of NCAA Division II.
Personal life
Cliff Harris lives in Rockwall, Texas, with his wife, Karen, and six children—three daughters and three sons. He is the author of Captain Crash and the Dallas Cowboys: From Sideline to Goal Line With Cliff Harris, which was first published in 2006 and published again in September 2014. He and his teammate, Charlie Waters, wrote a book together about their memories with the Dallas Cowboys called Tales From the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to football, he works in the energy industry.