Why did Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris retire at 27 years old?
While it’s true that the careers of running backs don’t last as long as other positions in the NFL, the age at which this rusher is walking away is quite young.
It’s not every day that you see a player call time on his career at such a young age. Yet, that appears to be exactly what the now-former Buffalo Bills running back is doing. Though there will surely be those who question whether his choice is the right one, the fact remains that the decision has been made.
Damien Harris retires from the NFL
According to his announcement on Monday, running back Damien Harris has retired from the NFL at the age of 27. This past season, Harris was on the roster of the Buffalo Bills where he carried on 23 occasions for a total of 94 yards and one touchdown. Sadly, his campaign was cut short by a neck injury in Week 6 during a game against the New York Giants. Indeed, Harris had to be carried off the field by an ambulance following a particularly heavy hit. The former Alabama star was initially taken by the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL Draft, meaning that in his brief career, he had the fortune to be coached by two of the greatest coaches in NFL history: Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, something he alluded to in his farewell message.
“For the past 20 years, playing the game of football has been one of the greatest privileges in my life. Getting to represent the name on the back of my jersey on and off the field, getting to compete at the highest level with and against the best competitors while winning championships, and being coached by the 2 greatest head coaches of all time in Nick Saban and Bill Belichick are all just a small part of what God has done in my life with the game of football. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and will go on to go, the experiences and memories I’ve made, the impact I’ve been able to make to this point, these are the things that mean the most to me. Gratitude is defined as ‘The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.’ Today I am grateful I have found the strength to walk away from the game I love so much.”
Though brief, Harris’ career was solid. In the four seasons that he spent with the Patriots, Harris played in a total of 38 games where he rushed for 2,094 yards and 20 touchdowns on an average of 4.7 yards per carry. His best season was undoubtedly in 2021 when he rushed for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games played. A two-time College Football Playoff National Champion, Harris was prolific with the Crimson Tide, rushing for 3,070 yards and 23 touchdowns in four seasons with the program.