Will Harris Bio
William Jamahl Harris is an American professional football safety for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on December 19, 1995, in Suwanee, Georgia, he has built a steady career as a versatile defensive back since entering the league in 2019. Harris played college football for the Boston College Eagles and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. Over the years, he has also spent time with the New Orleans Saints before joining Washington.
Will Harris Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Will Harris was born on December 19, 1995, in Suwanee, Georgia, a suburban community located northeast of Atlanta. Growing up in Georgia, he was surrounded by a strong football culture that shaped his early interest in the sport. Harris attended Choate Rosemary Hall, a prestigious preparatory school located in Wallingford, Connecticut, where he developed his skills on the gridiron and gained exposure to high-level competition. His time at Choate Rosemary Hall helped him mature physically and mentally, preparing him for the rigors of major college football.
Coming out of high school, Harris was a highly regarded defensive back prospect, which allowed him to continue his playing career at the collegiate level. His path from Georgia to Connecticut for high school and then onward to a Power Five conference program reflected a steady climb through competitive football environments. This combination of Southern roots and New England prep experience helped shape his approach to the game and gave him a strong foundation before arriving at Boston College.
Path to American Football
Harris enrolled at Boston College, where he played for the Eagles from 2015 through 2018. During his four seasons with the program, he developed into a reliable safety, contributing on defense and showing the kind of consistency that NFL scouts look for in defensive backs. His size, listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 206 pounds, along with his physical style of play, made him an attractive prospect at the next level.
Heading into the 2019 NFL draft, several analysts recognized Harris as a draftable safety. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 10th best safety prospect in the draft, while Sports Illustrated ranked him the 28th best defensive back and 141st overall prospect. Bleacher Report analyst Matt Miller listed Harris as the 13th best safety in the class. Projections on where he would be drafted varied from as early as the third round to as late as the sixth round. In the end, the Detroit Lions saw enough in him to trade up and select him in the third round, 81st overall.
Will Harris Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
The Detroit Lions selected Harris in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, the 81st overall pick. The Lions executed a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move up and secure their ability to draft him, sending their third-round (88th overall) and sixth-round (204th overall) picks to Minnesota. Harris was the seventh safety taken in the 2019 draft and was reunited with Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, who had previously served as a defensive line coach at Boston College. On June 4, 2019, Detroit signed Harris to a four-year, $3.72 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $952,244.
As a rookie, Harris began the season as a backup safety behind Tracy Walker III and Quandre Diggs. He made his professional regular season debut on September 8, 2019, during a 27-27 tie at the Arizona Cardinals, though he was limited to one solo tackle. He earned his first career start on November 3, 2019, after Walker suffered a knee injury, and he recorded five combined tackles in a loss to the Oakland Raiders. In the season finale, Harris recorded his first career sack, taking down Aaron Rodgers, and finished his rookie year with 43 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one sack across 16 games and six starts. In 2020, he continued to work as a backup before eventually starting five games and finishing the season with 35 combined tackles and one pass deflection.
Detroit Lions Starting Role (2021-2023)
Harris entered the 2021 season with an opportunity to claim a starting role, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn held a competition between Harris and Dean Marlowe for the open safety position. Harris was named a starting safety to begin the year and was paired alongside Tracy Walker III. He had his most productive season to that point, starting all 17 games and recording 93 combined tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble. He also split his time between safety, nickel, and outside cornerback due to multiple injuries and teammates contracting COVID-19.
His role shifted in 2022, when the Lions drafted Kerby Joseph and signed free agents DeShon Elliott and JuJu Hughes, moving Harris around the secondary. Although initially used at cornerback, defensive back coach Aubrey Pleasant insisted that Harris was best utilized as a versatile defensive back. Harris recorded his first career interception on September 18, 2022, picking off a pass from Carson Wentz during a win over the Washington Commanders, and he finished the year with 57 combined tackles, four pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one interception in 15 games. In 2023, the Lions signed Harris to a fully guaranteed one-year, $2.58 million contract, and he was used primarily as a backup nickelback. He appeared in all 17 games but started only two, finishing the season with 18 combined tackles, three pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
New Orleans Saints Season (2024)
On May 1, 2024, the New Orleans Saints signed Harris to a one-year, $1.29 million contract that included $491,500 guaranteed and a signing bonus of $167,500. He competed during training camp for a starting safety role and, while initially listed as a backup, began the 2024 regular season as the starting strong safety alongside Tyrann Mathieu. Harris made an immediate impact in Week 1, intercepting a pass from Bryce Young on the opening offensive play of the season during a 47-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Harris dealt with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss four consecutive games, and he also played under a coaching change after the Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen on November 4, 2024, and appointed Darren Rizzi as interim head coach. He set a season-high with eight solo tackles in Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished the 2024 season with 74 combined tackles, five passes defensed, and one interception in 13 games and 13 starts. He received an overall grade of 61.5 from Pro Football Focus, ranking 103rd among 171 qualifying safeties.
Washington Commanders Era (2025-Present)
On March 13, 2025, the Washington Commanders signed Harris to a two-year, $8 million contract that included $3.39 million guaranteed and a $2 million signing bonus. The deal reflected his growing reputation as a reliable and versatile safety who could contribute in multiple roles across a secondary. His signing added veteran experience to a Commanders defense looking to build consistency in the back end.
Harris suffered a fractured fibula in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve on September 22, 2025. The Commanders activated him on November 29, ahead of the team’s Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos, signaling his return to the field late in the regular season. His journey through Detroit, New Orleans, and Washington has showcased his durability, his willingness to take on multiple roles, and his steady presence in the secondary over six NFL seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Harris is best known for his positional versatility, having lined up at safety, nickelback, and outside cornerback during his NFL career. His size and physicality allow him to match up with bigger receivers and tight ends, while his experience in multiple roles gives defensive coordinators flexibility in how they deploy him.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Harris’s career came on September 18, 2022, when he recorded his first career interception against the Washington Commanders. He also posted his first career sack on Aaron Rodgers in 2019, and he opened the 2024 season with an interception on the very first play from scrimmage against the Carolina Panthers.
Will Harris Career Statistics
As of the 2025 NFL season, Will Harris has appeared in multiple seasons across three franchises, compiling 358 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 22 pass deflections, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. His statistical totals reflect a career built on reliability and the ability to contribute in several defensive roles.
Will Harris Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Will Harris was born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia, where his family roots are based. Public information about his parents and immediate family members has not been widely documented, and detailed family background is limited in available sources. His journey from Georgia to Connecticut for prep school at Choate Rosemary Hall, and then onward to Boston College, marked a major transition that shaped his adult life and professional career.
Personal Life
Public details about Harris’s marital status, spouse, and children have not been widely confirmed in available sources. He maintains a presence on social media under the handle @coachwillharris on X and @jamahl on Instagram, where fans can follow updates on his career and life off the field. Beyond football, he is known for his professional approach and his willingness to embrace the multiple roles asked of him in the secondary.
2025 Season Performance
Harris joined the Washington Commanders in March 2025 on a two-year contract and was expected to contribute as a veteran safety in a retooled secondary. His tenure with Washington was interrupted early in the season when he suffered a fractured fibula in Week 3, leading to a stint on injured reserve beginning September 22, 2025. The injury was a setback to a campaign in which he was hoping to make an immediate impact on a new-look defense.
The Commanders activated Harris on November 29, ahead of the team’s Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos, providing an opportunity to finish the regular season on the field. His return came at a critical stretch of the year and gave the Washington secondary another experienced option as the team pushed toward the latter part of the schedule. Given the length of his contract through the 2026 season, Harris’s role in 2025 also served as a foundation for his continued presence in the Commanders’ defensive plans.