Shelby Harris

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Harris made his mark with the Broncos in dramatic fashion. On September 11, 2017, on Monday Night Football, he saved the game by blocking a field goal by Los Angeles Chargers rookie Younghoe Koo. That season, he recorded 34 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 5.5 sacks, second on the team behind Von Miller. On November 25, 2018, Harris intercepted Ben Roethlisberger in the endzone to prevent a would-be game-tying touchdown and seal an upset win. In week 11 of 2019, he sacked Kirk Cousins 3 times, including a strip sack recovered by teammate A.J. Johnson. In the final game of the 2019 season, he preserved a 16–15 victory by knocking down Derek Carr's pass on what would have been the game-winning two-point conversion.

In Their Own Story

The ball sailed toward the endzone, and Shelby Harris leaped, his outstretched hands deflecting the pass just enough to send it fluttering to the turf. The crowd erupted. It was the final game of the 2019 season against the Oakland Raiders, and Harris had just knocked down Derek Carr's pass on what would have been the game-winning two-point conversion, preserving a 16–15 victory for the Broncos. Moments like these defined his tenure in Denver—clutch plays in high-stakes situations. Earlier that season, he had sacked Kirk Cousins three times in a single game, stripping the ball once. And in 2018, his first career interception came at the perfect moment: picking off Ben Roethlisberger in the endzone to stop a game-tying touchdown and seal an upset win.

Reader's Guide

Shelby Harris played defensive end for the Denver Broncos from 2017 to 2021, starting 11 games in 2020 and recording 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and seven pass deflections, which tied for the league lead among defensive linemen. In 2021, he signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension with the Broncos. His role was to pressure quarterbacks, stop the run, and disrupt passing lanes. He was known for his ability to bat down passes and make game-saving plays, such as blocking a field goal on Monday Night Football in 2017 and intercepting Ben Roethlisberger in 2018. Harris was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in November 2020 and activated in December, then placed on injured reserve on December 31, 2020.

Did You Know?

• Harris was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders with the 235th overall pick.
• He blocked a field goal by Los Angeles Chargers rookie Younghoe Koo on Monday Night Football on September 11, 2017, saving the game for the Broncos.
• Harris recorded his first career interception on November 25, 2018, picking off Ben Roethlisberger in the endzone to seal an upset win.
• In week 11 of the 2019 season, he sacked Kirk Cousins 3 times, including a strip sack recovered by teammate A.J. Johnson.
• Harris tied for the league lead among defensive linemen with seven pass deflections in 2020.