Marvin Harrison: Reliable Option

Marvin Harrison: Reliable Option

Marvin Harrison: Reliable Option

Having humble beginnings at Syracuse University where he played college football from 1992 to 1995. wide receiver Marvin Harrison eventually became one of the most reliable options a quarterback could have in the passing game. While he certainly wasn’t the first wide receiver to have great hands to catch a football, Harrison left a mark on the game that resonates with many football fans.

In his rookie season in 1996 Harrison started off very pedestrian statistically as he was targeted 118 times, recording 64 receptions for 836 yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 13.1 receiving yards per reception and 52.5 receiving yards per game. In 1997 Harrison was targeted 117 times and recorded 73 receptions for 866 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 11.9 receiving yards per reception and 54 receiving yards per game.

1998 was a great year for Harrison in the sense that he had found the quarterback he would be catching passes from for the rest of his career. The 1st overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft from the University of Tennessee, quarterback Peyton Manning did have his struggles as a rookie in the 1998 regular season, but with Harrison helping out in the passing game, the progression of development came easier for Manning. In 12 games started Harrison was targeted 122 times and recorded 59 receptions for 776 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 receiving yards per reception and 64.7 receiving yards per game.

Harrison continued his consistency with receiving passes from Manning as the duo became more dynamic together as time went on. In 1999 Harrison was targeted 184 times, recording 115 receptions for 1,663 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 14.5 receiving yards per reception and 103.9 receiving yards per game. In 2000 Harrison was targeted 169 times and recorded 102 receptions for 1,413 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 13.9 receiving yards per reception and 88.3 receiving yards per game. Things only got better for Harrison as he started every regular season game in 2001, targeted 164 times and recording 109 receptions for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 14 receiving yards per reception and 95.3 receiving yards per game.

2002 would be the year where Marvin Harrison would officially make his name be known among some of the best who played the wide receiver position. Targeted 205 times Harrison set the all-time single season record for most receptions with 143 for 1,722 yards, which was also an all-time single season record, and 11 touchdowns, averaging 12 receiving yards per reception and 107.6 receiving yards per game.

2002 marked the true beginning of career milestones for Harrison as he had 4 consecutive seasons with at least 1,400 receiving yards and 4 consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions. Harrison also became the first player in NFL history to record 2 seasons of 1.600 receiving yards in 1999 and 2002. Fellow wide receiver Torry Holt became the 2nd receiver to do this in 2000 and 2003. On November 17 Harrison recorded his 600th career reception against the Dallas Cowboys.

Harrison remained consistent in 2003, being targeted 142 times and recording 94 receptions for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 13.5 receiving yards per reception and 84.8 receiving yards per game. On October 12 Harrison recorded his 700th career reception against the Carolina Panthers.

In 2004 Harrison was targeted 139 times and recorded 86 receptions for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 12.9 receiving yards per reception and 69.6 receiving yards per game. On November 8 Harrison recorded his 800th career reception against the Minnesota Vikings.

In 2005 Harrison was targeted 134 times and recorded 82 receptions for 1,146 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 14 receiving yards per reception and 76.4 receiving yards per game. On November 20 Harrison recorded his 900th career reception against the Cincinnati Bengals.

2006 turned out to be both another milestone-making year as well as the culmination of a journey for Marvin Harrison as he and the Indianapolis Colts finally prevailed against their arch rival New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and then proceeded to defeat the Chicago Bears in a rain-filled Super Bowl XLI, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the first and only time in Harrison’s career. Harrison was statistically on point as he was targeted 148 times in the regular season, recording 95 receptions for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 14.4 receiving yards per reception and 85.4 receiving yards per game. On December 10 Harrison recorded his 1,000th career reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2007 was a year that Harrison had to miss for the most part because of an injury. Starting only 5 games Harrison had 20 receptions for 247 yards and 1 touchdown. Harrison then started 15 games in 2008, which would be his final season in the NFL. Targeted 107 times Harrison recorded 60 receptions for 636 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 10.6 receiving yards per reception and 42.4 receiving yards per game. On December 28 against the Tennessee Titans, which would be his final game, Harrison recorded his 1,100th career reception and became the fastest player to reach that milestone in just 190 games.

In the 190 games of his career Marvin Harrison had the most consecutive games with a single reception. In his career Harrison had the most games having 8 receptions (51), 9 receptions (32), 11 receptions (12), and 12 receptions (8), Touchdown receptions came easy for Harrison as he has the most consecutive seasons with at least 10 touchdown receptions with 8. Harrison is tied with another great wide receiver in Jerry Rice for having the most consecutive seasons with at least 14 touchdown receptions with 2.

The dynamic duo of Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning were very critical to the maintained success of the Indianapolis Colts throughout the 2000’s. Along with Manning, Harrison shares a few records that trump many other notable quarterback-wide receiver duos. Manning and Harrison recorded the most career completions with 953, the most career passing touchdowns with 112, and the most career passing yards with 12,756.

An 8-time Pro Bowl selection, Marvin Harrison was finally inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 after coming up short as a finalist in 2014 and 2015. Harrison has left a legacy as being one of the most consistently productive wide receivers and one of the most reliable receiving options in football history.