Pro Career
Harrison headed into 1999 after earning Pro Bowl honors for first time
following 1998 season. Has established himself as one of league's
most-dominant safeties since moving into starting lineup in 1996. Adept
at making plays and being around the ball, Harrison has averaged 123
tackles, three interceptions, three sacks, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over past three seasons.

Teammates voted him San Diego's Defensive Player of Year in 1996 and
1997. Made NFL history in 1997 by becoming only player to score
touchdowns on fumble return, interception return and kickoff return in
same season. Harrison.'s four sacks in 1998 tied his personal
career-high. In just five seasons in San Diego, Harrison had 395 tackles,
15 interceptions, nine sacks, 37 passes defensed, three forced fumbles
and three recovered fumbles while starting 48 of 74 games played.
Harrison started all 16 games in each of San Diego's past three seasons. Also one of team's top special teams performers, Harrison has compiled 34 tackles on special teams in five seasons.
2000:
Led Chargers in tackles (127), interceptions (six, career-high) and passes defensed (17, career-high)...teammates voted him recipient of David Griggs Memorial Award as Defensive Player of Year, honor he also earned in 1996 and '97...ranks sixth on Chargers all-time list with 22 interceptions...marked fourth time in seven years that Harrison has surpassed season 100-tackle mark...his six sacks led all NFL defensive backs and ranked second on team..led team or was tied for team lead in tackles in eight of 16 games...had season-high 12 tackles twice, including Game 3 at Kansas City Sept. 17 and Game 7 at Buffalo Oct. 15...had season-high two sacks Game 12 versus Kansas City Nov. 26..tied personal single-game best with two interceptions at Baltimore Dec. 10 and against Pittsburgh Dec. 24...had 63-yard return for touchdown against Steelers, his second-career INT return for score...Harrison's four interceptions in month of December was tied for NFL lead with Oakland cornerback Eric Allen.
1999:
San Diego's leading tackler through first four games ...suffered deep bruise to left shoulder in Game 5 versus Seattle which forced him to miss 10 of final 11 games...despite severe pain, played at Miami Dec. 19 in game which had playoff implications for Bolts ...final season totals included 41 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and eight passes defensed...team started season with record of 4-1 with Harrison in lineup and after his injury, San Diego suffered six-game losing streak...had season-high nine tackles and interception in win over Kansas City Oct. 3...forced fumble which Darryll Lewis returned 42 yards for score at Detroit Oct. 10.
1998:
Unanimous choice to start in his first Pro Bowl following 1998 season after finishing second on Chargers with 114 tackles...also added three interceptions, four sacks, 10 passes defensed and one forced fumble...started all 16 games for third-consecutive season ...named first-team All-Pro by Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly and Sporting News...marked third-consecutive season Harrison surpassed 100-tackle mark...led Chargers in tackles five times and also tied for team lead three more times...opened season with career-high three sacks in 16-14 win over Buffalo Sept. 6...recorded interceptions in back-to-back games at Indianapolis Oct. 4 and at Oakland Oct. 11...recorded third interception of season Nov. 8 at Denver...had season and team-high 13 tackles at Seattle Dec. 13.
1997
Named Defensive Player of Year by teammates for second-consecutive season...led team with career-high 132 tackles...also had career-high four sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and eight passes defensed...became first player in NFL history to score touchdown on interception return, fumble return and kickoff return in same season...fumble return for touchdown came at New Orleans Sept. 7...stepped in front of Warren Moon pass Week 4 at Seattle and returned it 75 yards for touchdown...in Game 8 versus Indianapolis returned onside-kick attempt 40 yards for touchdown to help secure victory over Colts...team leader in tackles in eight games...16 tackles versus Oakland was single-game career high...had one sack in each of four games...had interception versus Falcons Dec. 7.
1996
Teammates voted Harrison San Diego's Defensive Player of Year...finished season ranked second on team with career-high 125 tackles...also led team for second-consecutive season with five interceptions ...ranked second on team with 14 passes defensed ...also recorded one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one tackle on special teams...led Chargers in tackles two games and tied for team lead in two others...returned interception then career-long 29 yards at Denver Oct. 6...recorded interception Game 11 versus Tampa Bay... tied career high with two interceptions at Kansas City Nov. 24...closed out season with one interception and one sack versus Denver Dec. 22.
1995
Despite missing final five games with knee injury, led San Diego with five interceptions...also recorded 24 tackles and five passes defensed ...added nine tackles on special teams ...led Chargers with career-high two interceptions versus Seattle Sept. 10...recorded third interception of season at Philadelphia Sept. 17...had fourth interception versus Kansas City Nov. 12...intercepted fifth pass at Denver Nov. 19...led Chargers with three special teams tackles versus Indianapolis in Wild Card game Dec. 31.
1994
Played in 15 regular-season games and all three postseason contests as rookie...made name for himself on special teams by leading Chargers with 20 special teams tackles and one fumble recovery ...played in every game except versus Los Angeles Rams Nov. 27...did not record any defensive tackles...second of four fifth-round draft choices by Chargers and 145th player chosen overall in 1994 NFL Draft. Made a name for himself on special teams by leading the Chargers with 20 special teams tackles and one fumble recovery.Played in 15 regular season games and all three postseason contests as a rookie.

2001 bio:
It is no fluke that many NFL receivers fear going over the middle when facing the Chargers' defense and strong safety Rodney Harrison. Regarded by many as the league's hardest-hitting safety since Ronnie Lott, Harrison has returned to the level which earned him a Pro Bowl assignment in 1998.

After a disappointing injury-plagued season in 1999, Harrison earned the team's David Griggs Memorial Award as the Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. It marked the third time in his career that he has been named Defensive Player of the Year. He earned the honor after leading the team with 127 tackles, six interceptions and 17 passes defensed. He also contributing a career-high six sacks, the most by any defensive back in the league.

Harrison, who was named to the Chargers' 40th Anniversary All-Time Team last season, has racked up 22 interceptions, 16 sacks and 563 tackles during his career.

Many people don't know this, but Harrison made NFL history in 1997 when he became the first player to score touchdowns on a fumble return, interception return and kickoff return in the same season.

Rodney returns home to Chicago every offseason to be close to his best friend and mother, Barbara. When Harrison signed his first pro contract in 1994, one of the first things he did was purchase a washer & dryer and a refrigerator for his mom. Then he took it one step further in 1997, purchasing a brand new house for his mother in Markham, Illinois.

When he's not home with family, Harrison's hobbies include playing golf and billiards, working out and cruising the waters around San Diego in his 33-foot Sea Ray speedboat.

College: Entered NFL Draft before collegiate senior year...holds school record for tackles by defensive back with 345...All-America first-team selection by Associated Press, Sports Network, and Kodak in 1993...also first-team All-Gateway Conference...set school record with 28 tackles versus Western Kentucky...All-America second-team pick by Associated Press and Sports Network in 1992...first-team All-Gateway Conference choice...second-team All-Gateway Conference pick as freshman in 1991...majored in general studies.

Personal: Born Rodney Harrison December 15, 1972 in Markham, Illinois ...all-conference selection in football, basketball and track for Marian Catholic High School Spartans in Chicago Heights, Illinois...donates 20 tickets to each Chargers home game to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of San Diego...mother, Barbara Harrison, owns beauty shop in Chicago...established Rodney Harrison's "Hard Hitters" Foundation during 1999 offseason...foundation is nonprofit entity dedicated to improving literacy and expanding cultural and intellectual horizons of underprivileged youth...objective is to improve quality of life and training for disadvantaged children...resides in Olympia Fields, Illinois.