UVA Alum and standout NFL safety Anthony Harris put pen to paper on March 23rd, cementing a one-year, $5 million dollar contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Harris reunites with former teammate and fellow safety Rodney McLeod, who was a senior in Charlottesville when Harris was a freshman in 2011. Harris relates that the former was a “big mentor for [him],” and that the two Wahoos are looking to form a fierce duo in the Eagle’s secondary.
Harris’s move to the Eagles marks the end of his six-year tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2015. After playing mostly on special teams for his first three seasons with occasional stints as an injury fill-in, his hard work earned him a starting role in 2018. He made the most of his opportunity in 2019 with a career year, where he became a versatile cornerstone for the Viking’s defense and co-led the NFL with 6 interceptions.
Harris is coming off a down year in 2020 where he played under the franchise tag in Minnesota, but he looks to continue his journey and rebound with a rebuilding Eagles squad. He will be familiar with the defensive strategies employed by new Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who served as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Vikings from 2014 to 2017 and spent three seasons with Harris.
Surrounded by familiar faces and faced with a fresh start, Harris has what it takes to earn a long-term deal. The Virginia safety tandem that has come together in Philly boasts incredible potential, and they will not be hard to root for.
