Cliff Harris

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Harris arrived in Dallas after going undrafted in 1970, earning a roster spot by beating out third-round draft choice Charlie Waters for the starting free safety position during his rookie year. Although military service caused him to miss the second half of that season, he returned for Super Bowl V and never relinquished the job after 1971. He became a key member of the Super Bowl VI winning team, recording two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and ranking third in the NFL with a 28.4 yards per kickoff return average. Harris eventually formed the league's top safety duo with Waters throughout the 1970s. To maintain his speed, he famously wore placekickers' pads. His career included another Super Bowl victory in the 1977 season, where he intercepted five passes. He also played in Super Bowls X and XIII, both losses to Pittsburgh. In Super Bowl X, Harris gained infamy for mockingly hugging Steelers kicker Roy Gerela after a missed field goal, an act that resulted in him being violently shoved to the ground by linebacker Jack Lambert.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of his physical dominance came not from a statistic, but from a collision. Hall of Fame coach George Allen described Harris as a 'rolling ball of butcher knives.' His teammate Larry Wilson, also a Hall of Famer, stated, 'I feel Harris is the finest free safety in the business today... You see other teams modeling their free safeties around the way Harris plays the pass, and striking fear in everyone on the field because he hits so hard.' This reputation earned him the nickname 'Captain Crash' for his reckless pursuit of ball carriers. On the field, the Cowboys' defense ranked in the top 10 every year with Harris in the lineup. Despite the physical toll, he played with a unique blend of aggression and intelligence, leading to his selection as the Football Dream Team free safety by Sports Illustrated writers. His career concluded when the team was surprised by his March 1980 announcement at age 31 to pursue ventures in the energy business.

Reader's Guide

Cliff Harris played ten NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, finishing with 29 interceptions returned for 281 yards and one touchdown. He also recorded 16 fumble recoveries for 91 yards. In special teams during his first half of his career, he gained 418 punt return yards and 1,622 kickoff return yards, averaging 25.7 yards per kick return. His accolades include four First-Team All-Pro selections, six consecutive Pro Bowl nods, and a spot on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. He was added to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2004 and selected for the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2011 before his official Hall of Fame induction on January 15, 2020. Off the field, he authored 'Captain Crash and the Dallas Cowboys' (2006) and co-authored 'Tales From the Dallas Cowboys' with Charlie Waters. In 2014, Ouachita Baptist University named its new football stadium 'Cliff Harris Stadium' in his honor.

Did You Know?

• Harris was not chosen in the 1970 NFL draft but signed as a free agent after beating out third-round pick Charlie Waters.
• He wore placekickers' pads during games specifically to maintain his speed and quickness.
• In Super Bowl X, he was violently shoved by Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert after mockingly hugging kicker Roy Gerela following a missed field goal.
• Harris graduated from college with a double major in math and physics while playing all secondary positions and returning kicks.
• He retired at age 31 to focus on the oil business, surprising the Cowboys organization.