Percy Harvin: Injury plagued, star-studded career
MINNEAPOLIS (BVM) – Percy Harvin was electrifying when he was out on the football field. The only problem was that being on the field was not always a guarantee. Injuries plagued the Chesapeake, Virginia native throughout his NFL career, but he still found time to dazzle football fans with his speed and big-play ability.
Percy Harvin’s High School Career and stats
Harvin was a star at Landstown High School. Whether it was rushing, receiving or returning the football, No. 11 was either ending up way down field or in the end zone. His efforts helped the Eagles reach three-straight Virginia High School League (VHSL) Group AAA Division 6 state championships. Landstown was state runner-up during his sophomore and senior seasons, but as a junior the Eagles went undefeated on their way to a state title. In the state championship game Harvin put up big stats, going for 476 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. He finished his high school football career with 77 touchdowns and was one of the most sought after recruits in the Class of 2006.
While at Landstown, Harvin also participated in basketball and track and field. His speed on the football field translated to the track. Harvin won five state titles in 2005 during the VHSL Class AAA state meet.
Percy Harvin’s Florida Career and stats
Harvin had plenty of colleges to choose from after his stellar high school career but he chose Urban Meyer and the University of Florida. While at Florida, Harvin was a key piece on two BCS national championship teams, including the 2008 Gators team that is considered one of the best college football teams of all time – a team that also featured Tim Tebow and many other notable pro football players. That team went undefeated and beat Oklahoma in the national championship.
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During his three years at Florida, Harvin’s stats were impressive. He had 194 rushes for 1,852 yards and 19 touchdowns while also having 133 receptions for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns. His ability to hurt defenses through the air and on the ground made him a vital part of the Florida Gators’ offense.
In 2008 he was named an All-American with 35 receptions for 595 yards and seven touchdowns along with another 61 rushes for 538 yards and nine touchdowns. In the national championship game while playing on an injured ankle, Harvin had nine carries for 122 yards with a touchdown, and five catches for 49 yards.
Harvin is considered by many to be one of the best to ever play for the Florida Gators. He was even the first player to ever have 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game for the Gators.
Percy Harvin’s NFL Career and stats
Following his three years at Florida, Harvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He quickly made his presence known in Minnesota by becoming the first Viking rookie to score a touchdown in each of his first three games. Against the San Francisco 49ers, he had a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the first of two kick return touchdowns he would have during the season. In all, Harvin had 60 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns, and on the ground he went for 135 yards on 15 carries. As a kick returner he had 42 returns for 1,156 yards and two touchdowns.
Seen Percy Harvin trending and just want to remind y’all he was a PROBLEM pic.twitter.com/2BBcmvuRBC
— Barflaan Tedoe 🇱🇷 (@The_Barftender) March 28, 2020
Harvin was named the 2009 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and made it to his first and only Pro Bowl. He also received 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team honors.
Although his rookie season was the one with the most accolades, Harvin’s best stats came during his 2011 campaign with the Vikings. He had career highs in receptions (87), receiving yards (967), rushing attempts (52), rushing yards (345) and rushing touchdowns (2). Harvin also tied his career best in receiving touchdowns with six.
In 2013, Harvin was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2013 first-round pick, a 2013 seventh-round pick and a 2014 third-round pick. Due to injury, Harvin played very little for the Seahawks, but did make an appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos. He returned a kick 87 yards for a touchdown in the second half as Seattle ran away with a Super Bowl victory.
SEE YA.@SuperBowl style.
Raise your hand if you remember this Percy Harvin kick return. 🙋♂️🙋 (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/loMtr8AmXL
— NFL (@NFL) June 11, 2019
However, Harvin was traded the next season to the New York Jets for a 2015 NFL Draft conditional pick. He finished out the 2014 season with the Jets but was released in March of 2015 and signed with the Buffalo Bills. While in New York, Harvin had 29 receptions, 350 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 110 rushing yards and 495 kick-return yards.
Harvin played one season for the Bills before retiring in 2016, but then came out of retirement to again play for Buffalo. He played in just two games before migraines had Harvin placed on the reserve/non-football illness list, and he retired for the second time.
Over his eight year career Harvin accumulated 353 receptions, 4,026 receiving yards, 22 receiving touchdowns, 146 rushes for 927 yards and five touchdowns as well as 4,127 kick return yards.
Percy Harvin’s Injuries
Harvin was always an electrifying player, who could change a game anytime he touched the football, but injuries plagued his entire career. As a freshman, he missed multiple games due to injuries, and even when he was able to play, he was sometimes limited in what he could do.
He underwent arthroscopic heel surgery before his junior season. An ankle injury during his junior year forced him to miss the SEC Championship game against Alabama, but he did play through that injury in the national championship. However, after the national championship it was announced Harvin also had a hairline fracture in his right leg.
As an NFL player, Harvin played in 10 or more games in just four of his eight seasons in the league. Ankle and hip injuries as well as migraines had him on the injured reserve list or the physically unable to perform list multiple times. Harvin had a slight labrum tear while in Seattle and had to have surgery to repair the injury. In 2016, injuries and time to recover from them was Harvin’s reasoning for retiring the first time. Then, in 2017, injuries once again forced him to retire. He was 28.
Percy Harvin’s Post-NFL Life and Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Harvin has a net worth of $18 million. During his eight seasons in the NFL, Harvin made over $42 million in contracts, according to Spotrac. The Seahawks signed him to a six-year, $67 million contract with $25.5 million guaranteed in 2013. Then, in 2015, Buffalo signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract.
Since his second retirement, Harvin did try to make a comeback, telling NFL teams he was healthy and ready to return during the 2020 season. No team signed him and Harvin has stayed retired.
