Why it feels like Sunday was Chris Harris Jr.’s farewell

DENVER — The Oakland Raiders went out exactly as you’d expect Sunday on their way to their new home and identity in Las Vegas — with mental mistakes, squandered opportunities and, in the final 10 seconds, an ejection.

On the other side of the field, Chris Harris Jr. departed after the Broncos’ 16-15 win looking up and waving to the fans leaning over the rails above the southwest tunnel of Empower Field at Mile High.

We know it is an end of an era for the Raiders. We don’t yet know the same for Harris for certain. But with all signs pointing toward him testing the market in March, Harris marinated in the moments — all the way until he was in the locker room.

“Yeah, man, it was definitely different. It was definitely weird,” Harris said. “But it was just fun. I tried to stay in the moment, tried to win that game for us.”

Harris thanked the media, taking extra time to convey his gratitude toward longtime reporters on the beat. He passed out warm handshakes and hugs like a mall Santa Claus.

Not long after that, he thanked the fans.

Thank You Broncos Country for everything. It’s incredible what we’ve accomplished. Undrafted and 9 years later…Love y’all !!!!! ????

— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) December 30, 2019

Just in case this game was a goodbye to Denver.

Harris doesn’t know where he will be in March. He just knows the next two and a half months will be “real interesting.”

“I’ve never been a free agent,” he said. “I’ve never been free like this before, having a chance to have all 32 teams come after me, so this is going to be crazy.”

Before his market freedom begins, he had one last order of business to handle Sunday.

As has usually been the case against Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, the part Harris played was in simply being there. Carr hasn’t thrown an interception in his last eight games against the Broncos, and has a streak of 226 consecutive attempts without an interception in the series between the teams.

But Carr has pulled back on the throttle considerably since the game-sealing pick-6 Harris procured in the fourth quarter of Denver’s 16-10 win at Oakland in Week 5 of the 2015 season. It was a signature moment in the Broncos’ most recent Super Bowl-winning season, but it was a traumatic play for Carr and Raiders, who trailed 9-7 but were in field-goal range and driving towards a score that would put them in front in the fourth quarter that day.

So Carr mostly threw in other directions in the eight games that followed, including Sunday, when he opened by testing second-year cornerback Isaac Yiadom. Harris worked outside, with Will Parks handling slot-cornerback responsibilities, continuing his work of the previous three weeks.

For most of the 2010s, moving inside on sub-package downs to work in the slot was Harris’ specialty. And just as slot receivers rose in prominence during the 2000s, Harris was the standard-bearer for slot cornerbacks who rose in response. But what made him unique was his ability to work outside in base defenses and then move inside when the Broncos went into nickel or dime packages.

In effect, Harris had two positions’ worth of responsibilities to handle every week. Four Pro Bowl selections, a first-team All-Pro nod and two years as second-team All-Pro selection stands as evidence of how well he handled it.

“I can guard the best player on base downs, but when it’s time to go in that slot, I’m the best. I’m the best,” Harris said. “And I think people forgot that I’m still the best inside. I just didn’t play that this year.”

Instead, he was a No. 1 cornerback, often shadowing the opponent’s top receiver. There were some solid moments, and he allowed just three touchdowns this season. But heading into Sunday, opponents had a 108.4 passer rating when targeting Harris, according to the data compiled by Pro Football Focus.

“It was cool. I had to do what was best for the team. They thought it was best for me to be on the best player. They didn’t want any other younger guys to get on him. So I did whatever was best for Coach [Vic] Fangio and Coach [Ed] Donatell and I think they have big respect for me for being able to take that sacrifice the whole year and not play my position, but sacrifice for the team and be able to take the hard down and give us a chance to win every week.”

But now he has a chance to see what the market can offer, both in terms of salary and fit. As Harris goes into his 10th NFL season, he wants to do what he does best. And while he expressed confidence in the direction of the team — especially in regards to quarterback Drew Lock — the question of role will factor heavily into his choice.

“But of course, the big decision is how I’m going to be used,” he said. “This year I was used differently compared to how I’ve been used the first eight years in the NFL. So I’m definitely going to take a look at what I want.”

Nothing can take away his accomplishments in nine Broncos seasons. He played alongside Champ Bailey and Aqib Talib. He strengthened the Broncos’ legacy of undrafted stars, never losing the chip on the shoulder that lingered from being bypassed in the 2011 NFL Draft. He starred on a Super Bowl-winning team and will be long remembered as one of the parts of the “No-Fly Zone.” In due time, his name will sit on the 500-level facade at Empower Field, confirming his presence as a Broncos Ring of Famer.

Before he goes into Broncos history, he has another chapter to write. It could be in Denver. It seems destined to be elsewhere. That doesn’t mean he lacks gratitude or an appreciation of his legacy.

“I always tried to play my hardest. [I got] involved with the kids,;I love the community here. Just hopefully I touched a lot of people’s lives here. That’s the only thing I can say,” he said.

“But I’m also thankful. The Broncos gave me a great platform to be able to just do what I do, to be able to touch a lot of people in this world, and I’m just thankful for that.”

Gratitude is always appreciated. But it often comes with a “goodbye.” And while the door to a return is open, it feels like Harris’ accomplishments are about to become a part of Broncos history — a part of what they were, not what they are or will be.