When Vikings center John Sullivan had questions about life after back surgery, he turned to Ryan Harris.
Harris, a graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall High School and the starting right tackle for the Denver Broncos, has had three surgeries on his back. After Sullivan, his former Notre Dame teammate, had surgery last month, the two talked on the phone.
“I encouraged him,” Harris said. “John’s going to be just fine and is going to bounce back and be better than ever.”
Sullivan was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return before the end of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk. He must miss at least the first seven games, but he is optimistic about returning for the Nov. 8 game against St. Louis.
“I asked (Harris) about his experience and any keys in recovery that I should focus on,” Sullivan said. “It’s about coming back from the injury and playing this year, but it’s also about long-term recovery as well. He was encouraging, and it’s good to talk to a guy that you know you’re close with and played a lot of football together with and to hear there’s a positive outlook.”
Harris persevered throughout his football career despite back issues. His first surgery came when he was at Notre Dame and was one reason he dropped from the first round to the third in the 2007 draft.
Harris has had two back surgeries since joining the NFL, including one that forced him to sit out the 2011 season. But the Minneapolis native is still going strong and will line up Sunday against the Vikings at Sports Authority Field.
“I’m healthy and happy now,” Harris said.
Harris has been especially happy since May 28. That’s when the Broncos signed him to a one-year, $920,000 deal with $500,000 in incentives, ending his two-month search for a job.
Harris, 30, has made his home in the Denver suburb of Westminster since he broke into the NFL with the Broncos and played with them from 2007-10. He then went to Philadelphia, had a short second stint with Denver in 2012, and played with Houston and Kansas City.
The Broncos brought in the 6-foot-5, 300-pound veteran for a third time when left tackle Ryan Clady tore an anterior cruciate ligament in May and was lost for the 2015 season.
“I guess time’s a circle,” Harris said. “I’m having some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing football, and to be playing with the guys I’m playing with, I feel like I’m extremely lucky and I’m just loving playing for the Broncos now.”
Who wouldn’t love playing with Peyton Manning? Yes, there’s a lot of responsibility in protecting the star quarterback, but Manning can deliver even when his line is erratic.
Manning has been sacked eight times this season — three in the Sept. 17 game at Kansas City. Still, the Broncos are 3-0.
The Broncos beat the Chiefs 31-24 with two late touchdowns, but Harris had a disastrous Pro Football Focus rating of minus-7.8 that game. He bounced back strong in last week’s 24-12 victory at Detroit, getting a rating of plus-2.3.
“One of those things you learn in the NFL is some games are tougher than others, and you’ve got to be a professional and come back and work on the things you didn’t do as well as you wanted to,” Harris said.
Harris’ professionalism was one reason the Broncos wanted to re-sign him after the loss of Clady, a four-time Pro Bowl selection. The team has shuffled the line with Harris inserted on the right side, where he primarily has played throughout his career.
“We had some issues when we got to (spring drills), when we lost Ryan Clady, so we had some things that went on. But it was possible to sign a veteran who has played with you before,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “I think Ryan’s come in and done a good job, and I think he continues to get better. (When) you get caught in some of those situations like that and you’re able to sign veteran players that have a lot of snaps under their belt, we’re very fortunate.”
Not only does Harris have experience with the Broncos, he played with the Texans under Kubiak in 2012 and 2013. Harris then went to the Chiefs, where he started 15 games last season.
When Harris was away from the Broncos, he rented an apartment while his wife Jamie and children William, 2, and Betty, 1, remained in Colorado. His wife works for the United Way.
Harris has become entrenched in the Denver area. He has been a devout Muslim for 16 years and is involved in community work at a local mosque.
“I think the best thing I can do as a Muslim is just be Muslim and be around other non-Muslims, especially in a time like this when there’s a lot of propaganda and lot of xenophobia,” Harris said. “For me, I make sure that I get involved with the youth and in the communities that I’m in. It’s not about just doing events; it’s also being at prayers and being a resource for kids … if they have any questions.”
Harris is at an age when he’s starting to think about life after football. He said possibilities include becoming a teacher or going to law school.
Then again, he’s not thinking too hard about it. He believes he still has several good NFL seasons left.
“He’s had an incredible career in terms of longevity,” Sullivan said. “A lot of that bouncing around he did was dealing with injuries. If Ryan had been healthy, there’s no doubt he would have been a one-team, entrenched starter his entire career. … But he’s still a starting-caliber player in the NFL. He’s a heck of a player.”
Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.
