Marshall Harris

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Marshall Harris excelled in high school football and played at the collegiate level for TCU. Drafted by the New York Jets in 1979, Harris spent four seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots, respectively, before finishing his football career in the USFL.

Being in a football environment taught Harris the value of teamwork, resilience, and persistence. He believes these soft skills are important for players to recognize as they transition to the next stage of their lives.

Admittedly, Harris found his transition from the NFL a bit challenging. He struggled with mentally preparing himself for who he was going to be post-football, but he credits former teammate and mentor, Jerry Sherk, as well as counseling provided by The Trust’s Cleveland Clinic for helping him reinvent himself.

Harris’ enrollment with The Trust was timely, as it allowed him to receive treatment for a heart condition of which he was unaware of. He is thankful for his experience, crediting the organization for recognizing the unique care that players need when visiting a health professional.

Harris’ takeaway from his experience with The Trust is that players are responsible for their personal health. Although the services he used were not available during his playing days, Harris acknowledged how crucial physical health and psychological services are for retired players today.

Post-retirement, Harris spent almost 30 years specializing in Advertising and Graphic Design and was working in New York City the morning of the September 11 attacks. After spending the next three days in New York, Harris evaluated his next steps in life and decided to pursue studio art. Two decades later, this decision paved the way for a life-altering social engagement project.

Last fall, Harris went to Paris to participate in a three-month art residency called, The Resilience project. As an artist, he became accustomed to a new creative process that pushed him outside of his comfort zone.

During this time, Harris worked with middle school students and their teachers, and helped coach a group of youth football players connected with the local American football rules team, The Flash. The local community welcomed him with open arms, and after seeing the world from a broader standpoint, he returned home from France a different person.

Today, Harris enjoys his career as a studio artist and encourages current players to travel abroad and learn from other cultures. He is enthusiastic about his work and does not see himself retiring from art anytime soon. Knowing the art world can be subjective, Harris spoke on the importance of being one’s true authentic self.

Harris defines a quality life as being appreciative of your blessings and pressing on to become a better person. No matter how unpredictable things get, he believes one right decision can manifest into something tremendous moving forward.