Ex-Bills RB Suddenly Announces His Retirement at Age 27
Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, The Buffalo Bills are undergoing a significant overhaul of their roster. Although it was uncertain what would become of running back Damien Harris – who had reached free agency status – he has ultimately made the decision to retire from professional football.
On Instagram, the 27-year-old revealed unexpected news about his decision to depart from the beloved game as he stated that he had “discovered the power and courage to break free.”
Harris expressed that for the last two decades, participating in football has been a remarkable honor. He felt privileged to represent his name on and off the field while competing with and against first-rate adversaries at Championship levels.
The Alabama graduate, who was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft expressed his appreciation for being mentored by two of football’s most prominent coaches – Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. He acknowledged that these experiences were only a fraction of God’s blessings upon him through football.
After winning college championships twice, the individual expressed gratitude towards everyone who has played a role in his journey both now and in the future. He extended thanks to all those from Brassfield, Kentucky to Buffalo, New York including teammates, coaches, fans and many others. As a seasoned player he also gave appreciation for his wife’s exceptional support during their recent addition of Damien II; their first child together.
Over the course of his five-year NFL career, Harris participated in 44 games and was a starting player for 34 of them. Throughout this time, he accumulated an impressive record with stats displaying successful outcomes such as achieving 2,188 rushing yards on top of completing 472 carries resulting in scoring touchdowns to add up to a total of twenty-one points. Furthermore, he also managed forty-two receptions during plays that allowed him access additional yardage bringing forth three hundred more yards into play via receiving actions alone.
Due to a frightening neck injury, Damien Harris sat out the majority of the 2023 NFL season.
In March of last year, Harris became a member of the Bills. Unfortunately, in Week 6 against the New York Giants during the 2023 NFL season, he sustained a frightening neck injury which caused him to miss most of it.
Harris was lying still on the ground, encircled by his colleagues; it created a frightening atmosphere. An ambulance made its way onto Highmark Stadium’s field to transport the 26-year-old quickly to Erie County Medical Center. Fortunately, Harris managed to raise his thumb as he departed. During quarter three, Buffalo Bills declared that Harris had mobility in all of his limbs.
After being discharged from the hospital on October 16th, Harris expressed his gratitude to Bills Mafia through a message shared on Instagram. He conveyed thanks for their immense support and stated that God is unquestionably one of the greatest powers. Additionally, he quoted Psalms 46:10 in his post.
Due to his long injury record, Harris sought a new beginning in Buffalo. According to The Buffalo News article published in July, he admitted that the outset has been challenging: “I didn’t play my first year,” said Harris who spent his rookie season on the sidelines for New England.
“I began my sophomore year with injuries and consequently finished it that way,” he stated. Throughout the NFL’s 2020 season, Harris was absent for several games as a result of both an ankle injury and a broken finger.
Despite facing setbacks, Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott expressed his excitement in signing Harris from the very beginning. “I am enamored by the blend of size, strength and speed that he possesses,” shared McDermott via CBS Sports.
“Entering free agency, Brandon Beane, the Bills GM confirmed that Damien Harris is expected to be in good health.”
Last March, the Bills inked Harris to a contract worth $1.7 million for one year. Although he sustained an injury afterward, prior to that event, Harris managed 23 carries and achieved 94 yards while also scoring one touchdown in addition to two receptions accumulating a total of 16 yards.
Harris suggested that he would continue playing after Buffalo’s playoff elimination by posting on Instagram, “Year 5: Still I Rise 🤲🏽 God, I thank you.” Although the Bills’ general manager expected Harris to be healthy for free agency during his end-of-year press conference, his unexpected retirement followed.
Former Bills running back Nyheim Hines sent a message to Dame on X after seeing his retirement announcement. In the post, Hines shared, “I want to give a shoutout to my boy Dame for retiring. I have mixed emotions of happiness and sadness at this news. He was one of the funniest people in the locker room, and I haven’t come across anyone as authentic as him before. He had an impressive career 🫶🏽.”
Ty Johnson, the running back for Bills, commented on Harris’ Instagram post saying “Calling you a teammate was a pleasure mi hermano ❤️.”
