Damien Harris
A powerful, dependable running back who helped anchor two national championships at Alabama before carving out a solid professional career.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American football player·Birthday: February 11·Generation Z
Biography
Damien Harris built his reputation on consistency and hard-nosed running. At Alabama, he was part of a relentless rushing attack under Nick Saban, contributing to back-to-back national titles in 2015 and 2017. Not always the flashiest back in a crowded room of stars, Harris was the steady force, averaging over seven yards per carry in his final collegiate season. Drafted by the New England Patriots in 2019, he embodied the team's tough, no-frills ethos. In 2021, he broke out with a nearly 1,000-yard season, becoming the team's primary early-down hammer. His running style was direct and physical, a testament to his preparation and resilience. After a stint with the Buffalo Bills, Harris announced his retirement in 2024, closing a chapter on a career defined by winning programs, reliability between the tackles, and the quiet professionalism of a team-first player.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Damien was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Damien Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Damien's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two College Football Playoff National Championships with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2015 and 2017.
- Rushed for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2021 NFL season as the New England Patriots' lead back.
- Was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round (87th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
- Finished his college career with an average of 6.4 yards per carry, showcasing exceptional efficiency.
Did You Know?
He was a highly recruited five-star prospect coming out of high school in Richmond, Kentucky.
Harris and fellow Alabama running back Josh Jacobs were both drafted in 2019, marking a rare tandem from the same school.
He scored a 64-yard rushing touchdown in a 2021 game against the New York Jets, the longest run of his NFL career.
He announced his retirement from the NFL via social media in April 2024.
“You run the play they call and you get the yards that are there.”
