Chris Harris enters his second season as the defensive backs/pass game coordinator with the New York Jets, having concluded last season (2025) as the team's interim defensive coordinator. Harris joined the Jets after two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, serving as the defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks (2023-24). For Harris, 2026 marks his 13th season coaching in the NFL.

Last season, his first with the Jets (2025), Harris was part of a defensive staff that produced the Jets' first top‑10 third‑down defense since 2018. He helped lead one of the youngest defenses in football, ranking fifth in rookie snaps (1,983) and eighth in snaps by first and second year players (3,449), notably guiding standout performances by rookies Azareye'h Thomas and Malachi Moore. Under Harris, Thomas registered one pass defensed in every game he started, finishing the season with seven total and still holding an active streak of at least one in six consecutive games, the longest such streak to conclude the season. Moore led all rookie safeties with 95 tackles, the fourth most by a Jet this century.

Harris also guided cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Jarvis Brownlee Jr., acquired via trade during the season, into one of the league's top tackling corner duos, with both ranking in the top 10 from Weeks 1–12 before Brownlee suffered a season‑ending injury. Harris was promoted to interim defensive coordinator, in addition to his duties as defensive backs/pass game coordinator, in Week 16.

During the 2024 campaign, Harris' secondary unit in Tennessee allowed 177.3 net passing yards per game, the second fewest in the NFL. He oversaw sixth-year safety Amani Hooker as he led the Titans with a career-high five interceptions, tied for sixth-most in the league.

In 2023, the Titans defense ranked first in the NFL in opponent red-zone efficiency (37.7 percent), while tying for the eighth-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (20), yielding the fifth-fewest overall opponent touchdowns (33).

While with the Commanders in 2022, Harris helped Washington finish in the top 10 in numerous categories, including third-down defense (first), total defense (third), passing yards allowed (fourth), points allowed (seventh), and red-zone efficiency (eighth).

Under Harris (2020-22), the Commanders ranked fourth in the league in total defense (323.4) and eighth in passing defense (213.1 yards allowed per game). During that time, Harris saw cornerback Kendall Fuller register 40 passes defensed, the eighth most in the league.

In 2020, Harris played a key role in a defense that allowed just 3,068 net passing yards, marking the team's best performance since 2004. He aided cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller in becoming the first Washington teammates since Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland in 2016 to each record 11 or more passes defensed in a season. Additionally, he helped Fuller register four interceptions, tied for the seventh-most in 2020.

Harris spent four seasons as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Los Angeles Chargers, helping the team rank sixth in the NFL in total defense in his final season (2019), allowing 313.1 yards per game, while finishing fifth in passing defense (200.3 yards per game).

Following his eight-year playing career, Harris started his coaching career with the team that drafted him, the Chicago Bears, as a defensive quality control coach (2013-14), working primarily with the team's safeties.

A former sixth-round selection by the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft, Harris played safety in 101 games (88 starts) over eight seasons (2005-12). He started in Super Bowl XLI, where he intercepted a pass from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. For his career, Harris registered 422 tackles, 16 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and 37 passes defensed. A starter for four seasons at Louisiana-Monroe (2001-04), he started all 45 games he played, totaling 14 interceptions as a safety, and was named first-team All-Sun Belt.

Originally from Little Rock, AR, Harris went on to graduate from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a bachelor's degree in general studies (2004).

Harris has three sons, Jayce, Jaxon and Jett, and a daughter, Skylar.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2025-Present

Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator 2025-Present

Tennessee Titans 2023-24

Def. Pass Game Coordinator/CBs 2023-24

Washington Commanders 2020-22

Defensive Backs 2020-22

Los Angeles Chargers 2016-19

Assistant Defensive Backs 2016-19

Chicago Bears 2013-14

Defensive Quality Control 2013-13

PLAYING CAREER

Jacksonville Jaguars (S) 2012

Detroit Lions (S) 2011

Chicago Bears (S) 2010-11

Carolina Panthers (S) 2007-09

Chicago Bears (S) 2005-06

Louisiana-Monroe (S) 2001-04