NEW YORK —
David Harris is staying put in the middle of the New York Jets' defense.
The team announced Friday that it had re-signed the playmaking linebacker who has more than 1,000 career tackles in his eight seasons with the Jets.
A person familiar with the deal told FOX Sports 1 NFL Insider Mike Garafolo that it is a three-year, $21 million contract -- which includes $15 million guaranteed through the first two years.
Harris, 31, has been a consistent leader on the Jets' defense since he was drafted in the second round out of Michigan in 2007. He has led the Jets in tackles in all but one of his seasons with the Jets, and relayed the signals for former coach Rex Ryan's defense.
Harris will likely be a key part of the defense as a middle linebacker in new coach Todd Bowles' defense. He was expected to be a highly sought free agent -- particularly by Ryan's Bills or former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's Browns -- if he hadn't been re-signed by New York. Harris was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday for the first time in his career, but elected to not test free agency as new general manager Mike Maccagnan made him an offseason priority.
He had a career-high 150 tackles last season, giving him 1,019 for his career and ranking him fourth on the franchise's career list. Harris also tied his career high with 5 1/2 sacks last season, giving him 32 for his career.
Harris has also been a reliable presence for the Jets, having played in 100 consecutive regular-season games -- the longest streak by an active NFL linebacker.
David Harris is staying put in the middle of the New York Jets' defense.
The team announced Friday that it had re-signed the playmaking linebacker who has more than 1,000 career tackles in his eight seasons with the Jets.
A person familiar with the deal told FOX Sports 1 NFL Insider Mike Garafolo that it is a three-year, $21 million contract -- which includes $15 million guaranteed through the first two years.
Harris, 31, has been a consistent leader on the Jets' defense since he was drafted in the second round out of Michigan in 2007. He has led the Jets in tackles in all but one of his seasons with the Jets, and relayed the signals for former coach Rex Ryan's defense.
Harris will likely be a key part of the defense as a middle linebacker in new coach Todd Bowles' defense. He was expected to be a highly sought free agent -- particularly by Ryan's Bills or former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's Browns -- if he hadn't been re-signed by New York. Harris was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday for the first time in his career, but elected to not test free agency as new general manager Mike Maccagnan made him an offseason priority.
He had a career-high 150 tackles last season, giving him 1,019 for his career and ranking him fourth on the franchise's career list. Harris also tied his career high with 5 1/2 sacks last season, giving him 32 for his career.
Harris has also been a reliable presence for the Jets, having played in 100 consecutive regular-season games -- the longest streak by an active NFL linebacker.
