The Cowboys hired Al Harris to assist in coaching the defensive backs in 2020. Harris brings a wealth of knowledge to the Cowboys, spending the last 11 years in coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels after finishing a 15-year NFL career as a prolific secondary player, earning two Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro selection.
Under Harris' watch, second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs experienced a meteoric rise during the 2021 season, becoming one of the best players at his position as he led the NFL with a franchise-high tying 11 interceptions. Overall, Diggs became the third Dallas Cowboy - fifth time - to lead the league in interceptions, and the first since Everson Walls in 1985 (nine). Diggs was selected to his first Pro Bowl and earned first team All-Pro honors. Diggs also led the team with 21 pass breakups and was seventh on the defense with 56 tackles. Free agent safety pickup Jayron Kearse paced the defense with a career-high 92 tackles during his first season with the team, while cornerback Anthony Brown set single-season career-bests in tackles (79 - tied for fourth on the team), pass breakups (17 - second) and interceptions (three - tied for second). In total, Harris' unit contributed to a defense that led the league in takeaways (34) and interceptions (26).
Harris oversaw the development of two rising young talents in the Dallas secondary in 2020, with rookie cornerback Diggs and second-year safety Donovan Wilson taking major steps as contributors for the back-end of the Cowboys defense. Diggs led all Cowboys defenders in interceptions (three) and pass breakups (14) as a rookie for the first time in Cowboys history (Cowboys did not track breakups before 1984). Despite being the seventh cornerback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, Diggs tallied as many interceptions in his first year as the seven players drafted before him combined. Wilson emerged as a versatile weapon in the secondary, finishing the year with 67 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks. His 3.5 sacks were tied for fourth by a Cowboys defensive back in a season in team history.
Harris spent the 2019 season as a defensive assistant on Lane Kiffin's staff at Florida Atlantic University, helping guide the Owls to a program record-tying 11 wins and a bowl game win over SMU.
Harris was with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013-18 as the secondary coach, overseeing a group that finished in the top-10 in interceptions in all but one of his six seasons with the team, including a first place finish in 2016 (19 interceptions) and two top-three finishes (2013 and 2015). He oversaw Pro Bowl performances from Eric Berry (2013, 2015-16), Brandon Flowers (2013) and Marcus Peters (2015-16), who led the NFL in interceptions (19) during his three seasons with the Chiefs. Harris went to the playoffs in five of his six seasons with Kansas City, including an AFC Championship appearance in 2018.
Prior to joining the Chiefs in 2013, Harris started his coaching career in 2012 as a coaching intern with the Miami Dolphins under Head Coach Joe Philbin.
Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft, Harris went on to play in 194 games with 128 starts with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams. He finished his 15-year NFL career with 469 tackles, 21 interceptions, 148 passes defensed and 4.0 sacks. Harris started his career on the Tampa Bay practice squad in 1997 before signing with Philadelphia in 1998, appearing as the team's nickel cornerback for five years and played in two NFC Championship games (2001 and 2002). He then spent seven seasons with the Packers (2003-09), including just over four under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and he earned Pro Bowl selections in 2007 and 2008. Harris finished his playing career with one season each in Miami (2010) and with the St. Louis Rams (2011).
Harris was a two-year starter for Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1995-96 and was a first-team All-Lone Star Conference selection in 1996. His first two seasons of collegiate football were played at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, where he was a member of a National Championship team.
Harris and his wife, Shyla, have a daughter, Lyla, and three sons, Al Jr., Gavin and Gage.
