The Las Vegas Raiders had several years where their defense was among the worst units in the NFL. From 2017 to 2020, the Raiders never ranked in the top 20 in points allowed or better than 19th in yards allowed (via Pro Football Reference).
Consistency was difficult to find during that stretch, as the team continued to experiment with which defensive combination would work best. As the team transitioned into life in Las Vegas in 2020, the team was unrecognizable from 2017.
One key holdover, however, was safety Erik Harris. He played in 61 of the team's 64 games over those four years and started 30 of them. Harris was both a fixture and a bright spot for a wildly struggling defense.
Former Las Vegas Raiders Safety Erik Harris (25).
Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Harris went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers after his tenure with the Silver and Black. He was waived by the 49ers at the beginning of last season and did not appear in the NFL in 2024.
With Harris now officially retired from the NFL, he is taking on a new job in his post-playing days. On Monday, Harris was announced as the head football coach at Gulf Breeze High School in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Harris went to college at Division II California University in Pennsylvania. He went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft but played one year for the New Orleans Saints before joining the Raiders.
There, he spent three years in Oakland and one year in Las Vegas, totaling 189 tackles, including four for a loss, as well as five interceptions, 20 passes defended and a forced fumble. He also had two defensive touchdowns during his time with the Raiders.
Harris had two pick-sixes during the 2019 season, one of which clinched a Week 4 win against the Indianapolis Colts.
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