Marvin Darnell Harrison Sr. (born August 25, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL), much of it with quarterback Peyton Manning. He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was drafted by Colts in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
Harrison earned a Super Bowl ring with the team in Super Bowl XLI where they beat the Chicago Bears. An eight-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro member, he held the record for most receptions in a single season (143) until it was broken by Michael Thomas (149) in 2019. Harrison was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 and is widely considered one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.
College career
Harrison attended Syracuse University, where he was a three-year starter for the Syracuse Orange football team, playing with quarterback Donovan McNabb in his final year. Harrison set a school record with 2,718 career receiving yards, which stood until 2017, when it was broken by Steve Ishmael in the final game of his career. Harrison also returned 42 punts for 542 yards and two touchdowns and ranked second to Rob Moore in school history with 20 receiving touchdowns. Harrison graduated with a degree in retail management.
Professional career
Harrison was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round as the 19th selection in the 1996 NFL Draft, a selection which was obtained in a trade that sent Jeff George to the Atlanta Falcons. Harrison went on to become one of the most productive receivers from that draft class, which included Keyshawn Johnson, Eric Moulds, Bobby Engram, Muhsin Muhammad, Eddie Kennison, Terry Glenn, Amani Toomer, Joe Horn, and Terrell Owens among others.
Harrison made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 1996 NFL season against the Arizona Cardinals with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown reception from quarterback Jim Harbaugh in the 20–13 victory. In Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had six receptions for 106 yards and touchdown in the 37–10 victory. In the following game, a 24–19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, he had six receptions for 103 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his rookie season with 64 receptions for 836 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns in 16 games and 15 starts as the Colts went 9–7. In his playoff debut, Harrison had three receptions for 71 yards in a 42–14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round.
In the 1997 season, Harrison recorded 73 receptions for 866 yards and six touchdowns as the Colts went 3–13.
The 1998 NFL Draft saw the arrival of Peyton Manning as the future franchise quarterback for the Colts. Manning and Harrison over their careers became one of the most productive quarterback-wide receiver duos in NFL history. In the Colts' 1998 regular season opener, Harrison had five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. In Week 7, against the San Francisco 49ers, he had three receiving touchdowns. In Week 11, against the New York Jets, he had nine receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in the 24–23 victory. Harrison missed the Colts' final four regular season games after going on Injured Reserve. In the 1998 season, he had 59 receptions for 776 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games and starts.
In the 1999 season, Harrison had a breakout season. He totaled 115 receptions for 1,663 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in 16 games and starts. He earned Pro Bowl and first team All-Pro honors.
In the 2000 season, Harrison had 102 receptions for 1,413 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns in 16 games and starts.
In the 2001 season, Harrison had 109 receptions for 1,524 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in 16 games and starts.
In 2002, Harrison broke Herman Moore's single-season receptions record by 20 receptions. He finished with 143 catches, and he also had 1,722 yards receiving. Harrison receiving yardage marked the fourth most in NFL history for a single season at the time. That record stood until December 22, 2019, when Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints broke that record with 149.
In the 2003 season, Harrison recorded 94 receptions for 1,272 receiving yards and ten receiving touchdowns in 15 games and starts.
In the 2004 season, Harrison recorded 86 receptions for 1,113 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in 16 games and starts.