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ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of former defensive back Eric Harris. He passed on Sunday, February 19 in Little Rock, Arkansas from a heart attack, he was 57 years old. Harris played three seasons for the Argonauts (1977-79) after completing his college career and foregoing the NFL Draft to sign in Toronto.
At 6-feet, 4-inches, and over 200 lbs. during his playing days, he was one of the biggest and most intimidating players in pro-football. He played 48 regular season games with the Argonauts and was named an East All-Star in 1977 and 1978. On September 6, 1977, Harris intercepted a pass against Montreal and raced it 115 yards for a touchdown to set the club record for longest interception return in a regular season game, it still stands today. That season, Harris returned a team-leading 7 interceptions for 166 yards, which is still the eighth-highest return yards total in Boatmen history. He totalled six interceptions over his final two seasons in Double Blue, again leading the team in 1978 with three. He returned eight fumbles over the course of his career.
Harris played for the University of Memphis (then called Memphis State University) from 1973-76. A graduate of Hamilton High School in Memphis, Harris was named a starter at the cornerback position as a freshman, a position he held onto for all four years. He was named to the All-South Independent team in each year from 1973-76, was selected to play in the 1976 Blue-Gray All-Star Game and the 1977 Senior Bowl. He also landed on four All-America teams in 1976, including the Football Writer’s All-America Team, Tom Harmon’s Football Today All-America Team, the Associated Press All-America squad and the NCAA Consensus All-American Team.
In total with the Tigers, Harris amassed 218 total tackles and was credited with 27 pass breakups and 13 pass interceptions. He remains ranked third in career interceptions for Memphis.
Harris was taken in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL Draft but opted to play in the Canadian Football League for three seasons. When He returned to the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in 1980, he became one of the first $1 million defensive backs in the league. After three years with the Chiefs, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams and played three seasons before retirement.