Nick Harris Bio
Nick Harris (born November 13, 1998) is an American professional football center who has played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Since entering the league, Harris has also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Commanders, building a journeyman career along the offensive line. Known for his positional versatility, he has lined up at guard, center, and fullback during his professional tenure.
Early Life and Background
Nick Harris was born on November 13, 1998, in Santa Ana, California. He grew up in Southern California and attended JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California, where he developed into a promising offensive line prospect. At JSerra, he played alongside fellow offensive lineman Luke Wattenberg, forming a partnership that would continue into college.
Despite his eventual rise to the NFL, Harris was not a heavily recruited prospect coming out of high school. Washington was the only Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program to extend him a scholarship offer, and he committed to the Huskies on July 30, 2015. He also received offers from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs New Hampshire and Cal Poly. Harris chose Washington, and the small offer sheet made his college commitment a defining early step in his football journey.
Path to American Football
Harris arrived at the University of Washington and quickly earned a role on the offensive line. He won a starting position during his true freshman season and held that starting job throughout the remainder of his college career. His early opportunity to play at a major college program set the foundation for his development as a professional prospect.
During his first two seasons at Washington, Harris played guard before making a positional switch to center before his junior year. He missed one game during his sophomore season due to injury and earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference recognition that year. His performance and durability helped him emerge as one of the more reliable interior linemen in the Pac-12 by the time he reached his junior and senior seasons.
Nick Harris Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Harris spent four seasons with the Washington Huskies from 2016 through 2019, starting at guard before settling in at center. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 in both 2018 and 2019, marking him as one of the top centers in the conference during his final two college seasons. His consistent play in the middle of the offensive line helped anchor the Huskies’ front.
Heading into his senior year, Harris earned preseason All-Pac-12 honors and was named a second-team preseason All-American. He also appeared on preseason watchlists for the Wuerffel Trophy, the Outland Trophy, and the Rimington Trophy. Following his senior season, he played in the 2020 Senior Bowl, where he continued to build his profile as a draft-eligible center.
Cleveland Browns Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Harris was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 160th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. He signed his rookie contract on May 22, 2020, and began his professional career in Cleveland. As a young interior lineman, he worked to carve out a role within the Browns’ offensive line rotation.
His early Browns tenure was marked by injury setbacks. On January 6, 2021, Harris was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, and on October 5, 2021, he landed on injured reserve again with a hamstring injury before being activated on November 6. In 2022, he was placed on injured reserve on August 16 after sustaining a knee injury on the second play of a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. To start the 2023 season, he served as a backup to center Ethan Pocic and was later moved to fullback, showcasing his positional flexibility.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2024)
On March 13, 2024, Harris signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent, beginning a new chapter of his career. The move offered him a fresh opportunity to compete for a role at center after several injury-marred seasons in Cleveland. His time in Seattle was brief, as the team ultimately moved in a different direction at the position.
Cleveland Browns Second Stint (2024)
On August 11, 2024, Harris was traded back to the Cleveland Browns, along with a seventh-round pick in 2026, in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The return to Cleveland reunited him with the organization that had originally drafted him. He continued to provide depth along the offensive line and at fullback during his second stint with the team.
Washington Commanders Era (2025)
Harris signed with the Washington Commanders on August 21, 2025, adding veteran interior line depth to the roster. His time in Washington was short-lived, however, as he was released during final roster cuts on August 25. Through the 2025 season, Harris’s career NFL totals included 45 games played and 6 games started, reflecting his role primarily as a backup and rotational player.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Harris’s career came during the 2022 preseason, when he suffered a knee injury on just the second play of the Browns’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, an incident that sidelined him for much of that season. He is also a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection, an honor that highlighted his consistency at center for Washington in 2018 and 2019. Being drafted in the fifth round by Cleveland, despite receiving only one FBS scholarship offer out of high school, stands as one of the most notable underdog milestones of his career.
Nick Harris Career Wins
Other Wins and Performances
Harris’s primary on-field success has come in the form of individual recognition rather than team championships. He earned two first-team All-Pac-12 selections during his junior and senior seasons at Washington, establishing himself among the conference’s top centers. He also gained valuable exposure by playing in the 2020 Senior Bowl. At the NFL level, his appearances have come primarily as a backup and rotational interior lineman, with his versatility across guard, center, and fullback serving as a defining trait of his professional résumé.
Nick Harris Family
Personal Life
Nick Harris grew up in Santa Ana, California, and attended JSerra Catholic High School in nearby San Juan Capistrano, where he developed his football skills. Public details about his personal and family life beyond his early athletic background remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Harris signing with the Washington Commanders on August 21, providing him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot at center. His time with Washington ended quickly, however, when he was released during final roster cuts on August 25. The transaction placed him back on the open market heading into the regular season.
Through the 2025 campaign, Harris’s career totals stood at 45 games played and 6 games started, underscoring his continued role as a depth piece along the offensive line. His experience at guard, center, and fullback has made him a versatile option for teams in need of interior line depth or short-yardage personnel. Whether he returns to an active roster later in 2025 or beyond will likely depend on team needs across the league.
