Former Lions defensive tackle Damon Harrison announces retirement
Damon Harrison defied the odds to play nine NFL seasons, including some time with the Lions, and he has announced his retirement.
After nine NFL seasons, defensive tackle Damon Harrison announced his retirement on his “Snacks and Sonny Show” Saturday. He had not played this season, despite apparently having opportunities, citing a lack of “want to” to play.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Harrison. “I’ve had conversations with my family and we’ve talked about it. I’ve had opportunities to play this year, at the beginning of the year, and even throughout the season up until now. … Today, I will officially be retiring from the NFL. I waited this long just to see if that desire and that ‘want to’ would still be there and it hasn’t been. I love the game of football, but I don’t miss it. If I can’t go out there and play with that aggression and passion that’s made the player that I am today, I just can’t do it. ”
Leaving out the same way I came in…with my head held high and unapologetic. It’s been real @NFL 🙏🏾 thanks for giving a kid from the projects of New Iberia & Lake Charles Louisiana a chance. I made history!!! They said I couldn’t do it but I did it! #Rags2Riches Snacks OUT ✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/W6hlwmYJnX
— Billy (@snacks) November 13, 2021
Harrison landed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2012, becoming a starter in 2013. He signed a free agent deal with the New York Giants in 2016, then he was traded to the Lions in 2018.
In 10 games for the Lions over the rest of that 2018 season, Harrison had a career-best 3.5 sacks with 50 total tackles. In 2019, he started 15 games for Detroit with two sacks and 49 total tackles. “Snacks” was let go by the Lions in 2020, then played one game for the Green Bay Packers and six for the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Over 124 career games (111 starts), Harrison totaled 11 sacks, 494 total tackles (37 tackles for loss) and five forced fumbles.
