Martin Allen Harrison (born September 20, 1967) is a former

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...

who played ten seasons in 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 ...

for the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

, the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...

, and the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...

. He 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 the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

. Harrison attended Newport High School in

Bellevue, Washington Bellevue ( ) is a city in the Eastside (King County, Washington), Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, located across Lake Washington from Seattle. It is the third-largest city in the Seattle metropolitan area, and the f ...

and was a multiple letter winner in both football and

track and field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...

. In 1983, when he was 15 years old, he placed sixth in the national

AAU Junior Olympics The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the pinnacle competitions held annually by the US Amateur Athletic Union. Overview The AAU Junior Olympic Games are known as the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States. It has become th ...

in the

decathlon The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek δέκα (''déka'', meaning "ten") and ἄθλος (''áthlos'', or ἄ ...

. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.

College

University of Washington (1985–1990)

Honors, awards, and highlights

* Sophomore, Honorable Mention All-American Team – The Sporting News. * Three-year starter. * Co-captain in 1989. Defensive Lineman Of The Year in 1989. * Senior year- received league honors "Honorable Mention" as outside linebacker behind

Junior Seau Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau Jr. (; ; January 19, 1969 – May 2, 2012) was an American professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons, mostly with the San Diego Chargers. Known for his passionate ...

and

Carnell Lake Carnell Augustino Lake (born July 15, 1967) is an American former professional football player and coach. He was a safety and cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He is a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He was the cornerba ...

, both first round

NFL Draft The NFL draft, officially known as the Annual Player Selection Meeting, is an annual event which serves as the most common source of player recruitment in the National Football League. Each team is given a position in the drafting order in reve ...

picks. * 4 quarterback sacks vs Oregon, 5 tackles for loss vs. Washington State University, 21 tackles for loss during the 1989 season. * 38 career tackles for loss, 275 career tackles, and 34 career starts.

NFL career

San Francisco 49ers (1990–1993)

In 1990, Harrison made the 49ers as a tenth round draft pick (276th overall). That year the team finished the season with a 14–2 regular season record. Because of injury, he saw limited action. In 1991 Harrison was released on the final cut then re-signed the next day to the practice squad, where he spent the entire season. However, in the next two years, he played in 27 games, starting two of them. While with the 49ers Harrison made it to the National Football Conference championship game three times, in 1990, 1992 and 1993. However, the team lost each year, once to the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

(1990) and twice to the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

(1992 and 1993). He finished his tenure with the 49ers with a total of 9.5 sacks, 2 forced

fumble A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful h ...

s, and 39 tackles.

Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996)

1994–1995

At age 27, Harrison switched teams in hopes of getting more playing time. In his first season with the Vikings he played in 13 games, mostly on special teams. Harrison had more playing time and made a bigger impact the next season, getting to the quarterback 4.5 times, making 10 tackles and getting his only career interception, which he returned for ten yards.

1996

Harrison was named the starter at right defensive end in 1996. He managed his best season statistically, racking up 7 sacks and 21 tackles while starting in only 8 games.

Seattle Seahawks (1997)

Minnesota Vikings (1999)

Harrison spent his last year in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in 1999. Due to a knee injury, he did not see much action that year, playing in only four games.

Career highlights

He completed his career with a total of 21 sacks, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered and 90 tackles – 77 unassisted and 13 assisted.

NFL Statistics

Key:(GP) games played - (GS) games started - (FF) forced fumbles - (TK) tackles - (INT) interceptions *1991 SFO practice squad

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Martin 1967 births Living people American football defensive ends American football linebackers Washington Huskies football players San Francisco 49ers players Minnesota Vikings players Seattle Seahawks players Players of American football from Bellevue, Washington Sportspeople from Livermore, California Players of American football from Alameda County, California Newport High School (Bellevue, Washington) alumni