Marvin Harrison Jr. Bio
Marvin Darnell Harrison Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he became a two-time unanimous All-American and one of only eleven players in Big Ten Conference history to earn that distinction. The Fred Biletnikoff Award winner in 2023, Harrison was selected fourth overall by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL draft. He is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison.
Early Life and Background
Marvin Darnell Harrison Jr. was born on August 11, 2002, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Dawne Harrison and Marvin Harrison, a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 to 2008. Growing up, Harrison played both football and basketball before deciding to focus solely on football when he entered high school.
Harrison attended La Salle College High School as a freshman before transferring to St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. At St. Joseph’s, he helped lead the team to three consecutive state championships while setting Philadelphia Catholic League career records with 2,625 receiving yards and 37 receiving touchdowns. While at St. Joseph’s, he played with future Ohio State teammate Kyle McCord.
Coming out of high school, Harrison was a four-star prospect ranked as the nation’s 14th best receiver recruit. He committed to play college football at Ohio State University over offers from Florida, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and his father’s alma mater Syracuse. Harrison cited wide receiver coach Brian Hartline, the school’s atmosphere and facilities, and his existing relationship with McCord as reasons for his commitment.
Path to American Football
Harrison enrolled at Ohio State in January 2021, joining a wide receiver room loaded with future NFL talent. As a freshman in 2021, he received limited playing time behind future first-round NFL draft picks Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He finished the regular season with only five receptions for 68 yards, but his opportunity arrived in the 2022 Rose Bowl after Wilson and Olave declared for the 2022 NFL draft.
In the Rose Bowl, Harrison made his first career start and caught six passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns in a 48–45 victory over the Utah Utes. That performance announced his arrival as a major college talent and set the stage for his sophomore breakout. Following the game, expectations rose sharply as he prepared to take on a larger role in the Buckeyes’ offense.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Harrison entered his sophomore season with high expectations following his breakout performance in the Rose Bowl. In the Buckeyes’ season opener against Notre Dame, he caught five passes for 76 yards. Following an injury to fellow receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Harrison became the Buckeyes’ number one receiver for the remainder of the season.
In his first game as the team’s top receiver, Harrison caught seven passes for a then career-high 184 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Arkansas State. The following week he recorded his second consecutive 100-yard game with 102 yards on six catches and two touchdowns in a blowout win over Toledo. Against Michigan State, he caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns, marking his third career three-touchdown game, the most of any Ohio State receiver.
Ohio State Buckeyes Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Harrison set career highs in receptions (10) and yards (185) in a 44–31 victory over Penn State during the 2022 season. He added another 100-yard game against Indiana before recording his sixth 100-yard performance of the year in a 45–23 loss to rival Michigan. Despite the loss, Ohio State earned a bid to the College Football Playoff and faced the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs in the Peach Bowl.
Leading up to the Peach Bowl, Harrison’s matchup against corner Kelee Ringo was viewed by many as the potential key to the game. Harrison shone in the first half, catching five passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, helping Ohio State build a 35–24 lead. In the third quarter he was forced to leave the game with a concussion following a hard hit from Javon Bullard, and in his absence Georgia mounted a comeback to win 42–41. At season’s end, Harrison was voted a unanimous All-American and named the Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year after recording 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Entering the 2023 season, Harrison was widely considered to be the best receiver in college football. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting and won the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff Award after recording 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, the latter tied for third most in the FBS. He also earned Big Ten Most Valuable Player, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and Big Ten Receiver of the Year honors before declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
Harrison was selected by the Arizona Cardinals fourth overall in the 2024 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $35.3 million fully guaranteed, on May 23, 2024. The contract runs through the 2028 season.
After catching only one pass for four yards in his NFL debut against the Buffalo Bills, Harrison dominated the following week against the Los Angeles Rams with four receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first quarter, as the Cardinals cruised to a 41–10 win. In Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers, he left the game in the first half with a concussion, and in Week 8 he recorded six receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. He finished his rookie season with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, tying the Cardinals franchise record for most receiving touchdowns by a rookie, a mark he shares with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
Notable Events and Milestones
Harrison’s most signature moment in his rookie season came in the win over the Los Angeles Rams, where he posted four receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone. He also tied the Cardinals franchise record for most receiving touchdowns by a rookie with eight, joining Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in the record book. His selection as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft marked him as one of the highest-drafted wide receivers in franchise history.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Harrison is the son of Dawne Harrison and Marvin Harrison, a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 to 2008. His father’s NFL legacy gave him an early and intimate understanding of the professional game. That family connection played a central role in shaping his path to becoming a top wide receiver prospect.
Personal Life
Harrison is a Christian and is a partner of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Fox Sports broadcaster Gus Johnson gave him the nickname “Maserati Marv” during his college career. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and remains connected to the city where he first developed as a football player.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 season, Harrison is expected to build on a strong rookie campaign that saw him record 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, tying a Cardinals franchise record. His rookie contract runs through the 2028 season, giving the franchise stability at the wide receiver position for years to come. With a year of NFL experience under his belt, he is positioned as a central figure in the Cardinals’ offensive plans.
The Cardinals will look to Harrison as their featured pass catcher, with the goal of expanding his role and target share in his second professional season. The team will aim to pair his skill set with a more consistent offensive identity, hoping to translate his college production into sustained NFL success. A healthy second season would mark a significant step forward in his development.
Harrison’s combination of size, route-running, and red-zone production makes him a focal point for opposing defenses and a primary weapon for his quarterback. The 2025 campaign represents his first opportunity to play a full 17-game slate after a rookie year interrupted by a midseason concussion. Expectations in Arizona are high for the young wide receiver to take another leap forward.