CHARLOTTE — Longtime NFL assistant Cleveland "Chick" Harris, who spent the first seven years of Panthers history here as running backs coach, died this week at 79.
"It is with profound sadness that the family of Cleveland 'Chick' Harris announces the passing of our beloved father, husband, brother, mentor, and teacher on January 6 after a brief and valiant battle with cancer," his family wrote in a statement. "A 33-year NFL veteran assistant coach (1981-2014), he touched the lives of countless players, coaches, and personnel and will be dearly missed. Harris passed away at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, surrounded by family.
"He will be remembered as a role model, advocate, and trusted advisor to his players and many who dreamed of a coaching career. The Harris family is grateful for the outpouring of love and support."
Original Panthers head coach Dom Capers had worked with Harris 20 years earlier when they were both young assistants on Don James' staff at the University of Washington. The impression Harris made on him then made it an easy decision when Capers got to put together his first staff.
"Chick was always one of my favorite guys to work with," Capers said Thursday. "He was always so upbeat, very positive, you couldn't get Chick down."
As Capers took the job here as a first-time head coach, he brought a familiar defensive staff and wanted as much experience as he could gather on the other side of the ball. So Harris was one of his first calls to join the group, which included coordinator Joe Pendry, receivers coach Richard Williamson, tight ends coach Don Breaux, and offensive line coach Jim McNally.
By that point, Harris had 14 years of experience in the league, beginning with Chuck Knox in Buffalo and following him to Seattle.
"When you were with Chuck Knox, the running backs had to be tough, physical players because they were going to run the ball," Capers said. "And Chick had the ability to instill that in players; he had a great way with them. He could challenge you but in a positive way.
"He was the epitome of what you want in an assistant coach. He was loyal, motivating, positive, and someone you could always count on. We lost a great coach and a great man in Chick."
Harris remained with the Panthers for the next three years under George Seifert but then went to Houston to rejoin Capers with the expansion Texans in 2002.
In his career, he coached eight different running backs with a combined 15 seasons of at least 1,000 rushing yards, including Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, Curt Warner, Ahman Green, Arian Foster, and Anthony Johnson here in 1996.
Harris is survived by his daughters Tarana and Kara, son Tyler, and grandchildren Marley, Mila, Kinga, and Andrzej Cleveland.
