NFL CAREER – Harper’s continued to be one of the Saints’ most consistent and dependable defensive performers, evolving into one of the NFL’s top strong safeties. Since being drafted in the second round out of Alabama by New Orleans in 2006, he’s started all 67 games he’s appeared in at strong safety, and averaged almost seven tackles per contest with career totals of four interceptions, 11 forced fumbles. He’s been particularly effective rushing the quarterback with 9 and a half sacks. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season in 2010, making him the only Saints safety with two all-star game selections, after posting 100 stops, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, while recording career-bests with five forced fumbles and ten pass defenses.
NFL CAREER – Harper’s continued to be one of the Saints’ most consistent and dependable defensive performers, evolving into one of the NFL’s top strong safeties. Since being drafted in the second round out of Alabama by New Orleans in 2006, he’s started all 67 games he’s appeared in at strong safety, and averaged almost seven tackles per contest with career totals of four interceptions, 11 forced fumbles. He’s been particularly effective rushing the quarterback with 9 and a half sacks. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season in 2010, making him the only Saints safety with two all-star game selections, after posting 100 stops, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, while recording career-bests with five forced fumbles and ten pass defenses.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Re-signed to a one-year contract (RFA), 6/15/10; Placed on injured reserve, 10/10/06; Agreed to terms on a four-year contract, 7/25/06; Selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2010: Pro Bowl. 2009: Pro Bowl. 2007: Ed Block Courage Award (vote by teammates).
2010 – Started 15 regular season games and one playoff contest at SS…Recorded 100 tackles (82 solo), three sacks, an interception, ten pass defenses, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Set career-highs in pass defenses and forced fumbles. Tied for fifth in NFL in forced fumbles, while quarterback takedown total was tied for fourth among safeties…Became first Saints safety selected to two Pro Bowls…In opener vs. Minnesota, Sept 9, made six tackles (five solo) with a pass defense and forced a hurried throw by QB Brett Favre that was intercepted by LB Jonathan Vilma…At San Francisco, Sept. 20, finished with six tackles (five solo), an interception and a forced fumble…After missing Oct. 3 contest vs. Carolina with hamstring injury, returned to lineup at Arizona, Oct. 10, and had seven solo tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defensed…Recorded seven solo stops and forced a fumble for second straight week at Tampa Bay, Oct. 17…At Carolina, Nov. 7, led team with ten tackles (nine solo), three pass defenses, a sack and three special teams tackles…Third quarter strip and recovery of ball fumbled by Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, stopped potential scoring drive, vs. Seattle, Nov. 21…Ended Bengals’ hopes, at Cincinnati, Dec. 5, with a sack of QB Carson Palmer on last play to go along with eight tackles (six solo)…Posted ten tackles (eight solo), one pass defense, a forced fumble and a sack at St. Louis, Dec. 12. First quarter strip of Rams RB Steven Jackson was recovered by CB Jabari Greer. Third quarter sack of QB Sam Bradford forced St. Louis to punt…In NFC Wild Card Playoff at Seattle, 1/8/11, made seven tackles (four solo). 2009 – Opened all 16 regular season games at SS, and two of three postseason contests…Finished second on team with a career-high 127 tackles (87 solo), 1 and a half sacks, seven pass defenses and two forced fumbles. Added five special teams tackles…In Super Bowl XLIV vs. Indianapolis, started, had eight stops and broke up two passes…With the Saints opening with three cornerbacks vs. Minnesota in the NFC Championship, Harper didn’t open a game for the first time in his NFL career. Contributed with five tackles and a forced fumble…Led team with 10 tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, in opener vs. Detroit, Sept. 13…Had eight stops (six solo), including dropping QB Kevin Kolb for a six-yard loss, at Philadelphia, Sept. 20…Turned in big performance vs. NY Giants, Oct. 18 with eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble that set up a TD. Also hit QB Eli Manning, affecting a pass that was intercepted by CB Jabari Greer…At Miami, forced a fumble that set up a TD, had six tackles and broke up a pass…Led Saints with 11 stops at Atlanta, Nov. 2…Bested career-high from the week before with 14 stops (11 solo) vs. Carolina, Nov. 8…Deflected two passes and had 12 tackles at St. Louis, Nov. 15, giving him a three-game tackle total of 37…Dec. 19 vs. Dallas, had five tackles – two behind the line of scrimmage – a pair of pass defenses and a special teams tackle…Notched eight stops vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 27. 2008 – Started all 15 games he appeared in, inactive at Washington, Sept. 14 with an injured hamstring…Finished third on team with a 106 tackles (72 solo) and added nine pass defenses and a forced fumble…Also had 12 special teams tackles…Led secondary with eight stops in opener vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 7 and added two special teams tackles…Had 10 tackles (seven solo) vs. San Francisco, Sept. 28, the first of four times he would reach double digits…Posted 10 solo stops and knocked away a pass at Kansas City, Nov. 16…Had two pass defenses and 10 tackles (six solo) vs. Green Bay, Nov. 24…At Tampa Bay, Nov. 30, had season-high four special teams tackles…Deflected a pass, forced a fumble and posted three tackles at Detroit, Dec. 21…Had 10 tackles (eight solo) vs. Carolina, Dec. 28. 2007 – Started all 16 games at SS, posting 96 tackles (63 solo) to tie for third on the team, and added four sacks, three interceptions with 58 return yards and a touchdown, seven pass defenses, two forced fumbles and two tackles for a loss… Sack total led all NFL DBs and ranked second on team…Interception total tied for team-high…Had six or more tackles in 10 contests…Added 10 special teams stops…At Seattle, Oct. 14, had eight tackles (seven solo), two sacks on blitzes and a pair of pass defenses…At Carolina, Nov. 25, posted six solo stops, his first career interception and forced a fumble to set up a TD…At Atlanta, Dec. 10, scored first career TD, returning an interception 31 yards…Tied career-high at Chicago, Dec. 30 with two sacks, adding six stops and a forced fumble. 2006 – Started all five games he appeared in at SS, notching 32 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble…Tackle total ranked third on team after five games…Had seven tackles and a sack for an eight-yard loss in NFL debut at Cleveland, Sept. 10… Notched four tackles, a pass defense and a forced fumble vs. Atlanta, Sept. 25…Departed vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 8, in fourth quarter with knee injury. Placed on injured reserve, Oct. 10.
COLLEGE – Four-year letterman at Alabama who became a contributor as a freshman and started final three seasons for defense that annually ranked among nation's best units…Departed ranked sixth in school history with 302 tackles (189 solo), five interceptions, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 3.5 sacks…First-team All-SEC as a senior, when he had 69 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception…As a junior he moved from strong to free safety and was voted second-team all-conference with 77 tackles (45 solo), three interceptions, pair of fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a sack… Started at SS in 2003 and recorded a career-high 114 tackles (79 solo), an interception and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown…As a freshman in 2002 appeared in 12 games with one start…Redshirted in 2001.
PERSONAL – Attended Prattville (Ala.) HS…Played QB and FS as senior…Finished season with 58 tackles and four interceptions in limited playing time because of a broken leg…Graduated in December, 2005 with a degree in Management…Born Dec. 11, 1982 in Prattville, Ala.
