N’Keal Harry
N’Keal Harry (born December 17, 1997) is a former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors twice. Selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Harry went on to spend time with the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks before his playing career came to a close.
Early Life and Background
N’Keal Harry was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, before moving as a baby to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His grandmother later brought him to the Phoenix metropolitan area, with the blessing of his mother, to provide him with broader opportunities. Growing up, Harry tried several sports, including soccer, football, and basketball, although his grandmother had hoped he would choose a less dangerous path. She eventually agreed to let him pursue football.
Harry starred at Chandler High School after transferring from Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, earning five-star recruiting honors from Rivals.com. Recruiting services widely regarded him as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country. During his junior season, he caught 13 touchdown passes on 30 receptions for 657 yards, cementing his status as an elite high school athlete.
Path to Professional Football
Harry chose to remain close to home and committed to Arizona State University, turning down offers from Texas A&M, Oregon, and USC, among other top programs. In the 2016 season opener against Northern Arizona University, he became just the ninth true freshman in school history to start a season opener. His freshman year produced 58 catches for 659 yards and five touchdowns, along with rushing and passing contributions, earning him Freshman All-American recognition from Scout, Football Focus, and Campus Insiders.
As a sophomore, Harry posted 82 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. His junior year opened with Associated Press preseason All-American recognition. On October 27, 2018, he produced a one-handed acrobatic catch against the USC Trojans that drew national praise, later scoring three touchdowns the following week in an upset of the Utah Utes. After a comeback win over the Arizona Wildcats on November 24, 2018, Harry announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
N’Keal Harry Career
New England Patriots (2019-2021)
The New England Patriots selected N’Keal Harry in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the 32nd overall pick. He was the second wide receiver taken in the first round that year, behind Marquise Brown, and the first receiver Bill Belichick drafted in the first round during his Patriots tenure. On May 14, 2019, Harry signed a four-year, $10.1 million deal with a $5.3 million signing bonus. A preseason ankle injury sent him to injured reserve on September 2, 2019, and he was activated on November 2.
Harry caught his first career receiving touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Tom Brady in a 13-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2019. As a rookie, he appeared in seven games, totaling 12 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. In 2020, he recorded a career-high eight receptions for 72 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 and finished the season opener with five receptions for 39 yards. Harry requested a trade in July 2021, suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason, and was benched late in the year.
Chicago Bears (2022)
On July 12, 2022, the Chicago Bears acquired Harry from the Patriots in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick. He opened the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury and was activated on October 10. Harry made his Bears debut on October 24 against his former team, the New England Patriots, though his time in Chicago lasted only one season.
Minnesota Vikings (2023-2024)
Harry signed with the Minnesota Vikings on August 6, 2023, was released on August 24, and was re-signed to the practice squad on September 4. He joined the active roster on October 11, 2023, and was released and re-signed multiple times throughout the year. On January 8, 2024, the Vikings signed him to a reserve/future contract. On June 4, 2024, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Harry would transition from wide receiver to tight end. He was waived on August 27, re-signed to the practice squad, and released on October 21, 2024.
Seattle Seahawks (2024)
On November 11, 2024, the Seattle Seahawks signed Harry to their practice squad. He was released on December 3, 2024, closing out his NFL career after six seasons across four organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Harry’s most celebrated moment came during his junior season at Arizona State, when his acrobatic one-handed catch against USC became one of the most replayed highlights in college football that year. In the NFL, he became the first wide receiver Bill Belichick drafted in the first round as Patriots head coach and the first the franchise had selected in Round 1 since Terry Glenn in 1996. He also scored his first career receiving touchdown from Tom Brady in 2019, a notable milestone for a first-round rookie.
N’Keal Harry Career Wins
N’Keal Harry’s career featured highlights at both the college and professional levels, though he did not capture a major NFL individual award. His first-team All-Pac-12 selections in 2017 and 2018 stood as his most decorated achievements. He contributed to team victories across the Patriots, Bears, Vikings, and Seahawks, including a 13-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys in which he caught his first NFL touchdown.
Arizona State Sun Devils Highlights
Across three college seasons, Harry built a résumé that included 82 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017 and a memorable 2018 campaign capped by a viral one-handed grab against USC. He also scored three touchdowns the following week in an upset of the 15th-ranked Utah Utes. Following the Territorial Cup win over Arizona, Harry declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Harry’s strongest statistical outing came in 2020, when he recorded a career-high eight receptions for 72 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. His first career receiving touchdown, a 10-yard catch from Tom Brady, came in November 2019 against the Dallas Cowboys. Beyond individual plays, he was a member of multiple winning teams and playoff-contending rosters during his Patriots tenure.
N’Keal Harry Family
Family Background and Upbringing
N’Keal Harry was raised primarily by his grandmother in the Phoenix area after she brought him from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United States, with the blessing of his mother, to expand his opportunities. Family support was central to his athletic development, and his grandmother played a key role in guiding his early sports choices.
2025 Season Performance
N’Keal Harry was released by the Seattle Seahawks on December 3, 2024, and based on the available information, he is no longer listed on an active NFL roster. His professional playing career appears to have concluded after six seasons in the league. Any potential return to football in 2025, whether as a player, coach, or in another capacity, has not been publicly confirmed by the available sources.