James Harrison (American football)
A ferocious NFL linebacker who defied the odds as an undrafted player to become a Super Bowl champion and one of the most feared defensive forces of his era.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American football player·Birthday: May 4·Generation X
Biography
James Harrison's football journey is a masterclass in relentless defiance. Overlooked in the NFL draft after playing at Kent State, he was cut multiple times by the Pittsburgh Steelers and even had a stint with the Rhein Fire in Europe. His breakthrough came not from pedigree but from pure, punishing physicality and a work ethic that turned him into a cornerstone of the Steelers' defense. Known for his explosive power at the outside linebacker position, Harrison played with a controlled fury that intimidated opponents and energized his team. His career-defining moment came in Super Bowl XLIII, where he intercepted a pass at the goal line and rumbled 100 yards for a touchdown, the longest play in Super Bowl history. That play encapsulated his transformative impact: an undrafted free agent who, through sheer force of will, became the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl selection, anchoring two championship teams.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
James was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
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 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He made a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII, the longest play in Super Bowl history.
- He was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
- He won two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers (XL and XLIII).
- He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times (2007–2011).
Did You Know?
He is known for an intense weightlifting regimen; he reportedly could bench press over 400 pounds.
He initially retired in 2014 but returned to play several more seasons, finishing his career with the New England Patriots.
He was fined over $100,000 by the NFL throughout his career for hits deemed against player safety rules.
His father, James Harrison Sr., was a captain in the US Army Special Forces.
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