Michael Lee Harris (born January 16, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a

tight end The tight end (TE) is an offense (sports), offensive position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football. It is a hybrid that combines the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a receiver (football), receiv ...

and on special teams for six seasons for the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He also played four seasons in the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He is currently a pastor and an author. Harris played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for Kansas State Wildcats and was undrafted. He played two seasons in the CFL with the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...

in 1976-77 followed by two seasons with the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

in 1978–79 before signing with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. During his six NFL seasons, he totaled 99 receptions for 1,369 yards for a 13.8 yards-per-reception average and 10 touchdowns. His most productive season by far was in 1984 when, starting all 16 games, he caught 48 passes for 759 yards (15.8 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Harris played in Super Bowl XVI for the Bengals, where they lost 26–21 to the San Francisco 49ers. Harris currently operates the M.L. Harris All Boys Academy that teaches life skills, academics, leadership and character as well as sports, in conjunction with the New Life Outreach Christian Center in

Reynoldsburg, Ohio Reynoldsburg is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, Fairfield, Franklin County, Ohio, Franklin, and Licking County, Ohio, Licking counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a suburban community in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area. The population ...

. He is the father of former Bowling Green State University standout, Josh Harris.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, M.L. 1954 births American football tight ends Canadian football slotbacks Cincinnati Bengals players Toronto Argonauts players Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Kansas State Wildcats football players Tampa Spartans football players Living people