ORLANDO, Fla. – Damien Harris is on to his next chapter.
The former Buffalo Bills running back announced his retirement from the NFL on Instagram on Monday night. Harris was a free agent after playing one season in Buffalo, which was shortchanged by a neck injury.
In a three-slide Instagram post, Harris bid farewell to the league.
“Today I am grateful I have found the strength to walk away from the game I love so much,” he wrote.
Harris entered the league as a third-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2019 draft. He played four seasons for the Patriots before joining the Bills during the 2023 offseason.
In Week 6, while the Bills were playing the New York Giants, Harris suffered a neck injury and concussion and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. The injury ended his season.
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Harris finished his time in the league having played 44 games with 34 starts. He had 472 carries for 2,188 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Fifteen of those rushing touchdowns came in the 2021 season with the Patriots, his most productive year.
Harris is a Kentucky native and played at the University of Alabama.
“Thank you to every person that has been a part of and will continue to be a part of this journey,” he wrote.
On the final slide, Harris thanked his wife and his son, Dame Harris II.
Harris ended his post with “no need to worry, y’all will be seeing me soon!” and a Bible verse. The post was flooded with comments from former teammates wishing Harris the best.
Former Bills running back Nyheim Hines posted on X, formerly Twitter, in support of Harris and his decision.
“Shout out to my boy Dame on his retirement,” Hines wrote. “Can’t lie I’m happy and sad at the same time. One of funniest people to be in a locker room with, and I haven’t met a more genuine guy. hell of career.”