Alvin Harper

Harper was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (12th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft, in order to find a receiving partner for starter Michael Irvin.[1] As a rookie, he caught 20 passes for 326 yards and one touchdown, helping Dallas finish 11–5, its first winning season since 1985. He missed the seventh game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a neck injury.

In 1992, he rushed once for 15 yards and caught 35 passes for 562 yards and four touchdowns. He probably had the signature play of his career during the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers, catching a slant route for 70 yards, setting up the Cowboys on the 10-yard line and sealing the win. He also caught a 45-yard touchdown from quarterback Troy Aikman during the 52–17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, after which he dunked the ball over the goal post crossbar.

In 1993, Harper established himself as one of the best deep threats in the NFL with a 21.6 yards per catch average, and a total of 36 receptions for 777 yards and five touchdowns. He again had a key play in the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers: with Troy Aikman knocked out of the game with a concussion, Dallas backup quarterback Bernie Kosar connected with Harper for a 42-yard touchdown. That year, Dallas returned to face the Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII during which Aikman completed a 16-yard pass to him to give the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the six early in the fourth quarter. That set up a one-yard-run by running back Emmitt Smith and helped seal the Bills' fate as Dallas won 30–13.

Harper's best year came in 1994, when he led the league with a 24.9 yards-per-reception average, catching 33 passes for 821 yards and eight touchdowns. However, Dallas failed to make a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl with a 38–28 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

On March 8, 1995, Harper signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers based on his big play ability and championship experience.[2] Though he had a career-high 46 receptions for 633 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first season in Tampa, he was not able to live up to his free agent billing. He missed the first 3 games of the season because of a left sprained medial collateral and a sprained left ankle he suffered in the first preseason game against the New York Jets.[3] He clinched a 14-6 win in the fourth game against the Washington Redskins with a touchdown reception in the final 6 minutes. His best game came against the Cincinnati Bengals with 6 receptions for 117 yards and no touchdowns.

In 1996, he appeared in 12 games with 7 starts, registering 19 receptions for 289 yards and one touchdown. His top receiving game came in the third game against the Denver Broncos, making 2 receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown. He had 4 receptions for 41 yards and no touchdowns in the fifth game against the Detroit Lions. Harper was replaced with Robb Thomas in the second half of the sixth game against the Minnesota Vikings and would lose his job as the starter at wide receiver.[4] He would start once more in the season finale against the Chicago Bears, in place of an injured Thomas.[5]

On June 10, 1997, he was released before the start of the season.[6] During his two years in Tampa he was slowed by injuries and played in only 25 games, where he caught 65 passes for 922 yards and three touchdowns.

On June 11, 1997, the Washington Redskins signed him, gambling that he could flourish again after being reunited with head coach Norv Turner.[7] Harper was a reserve player in 12 games, in which he caught only 2 receptions for 65 yards in the fourth game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On December 1, he was released after he complained about his playing time, following the Redskins 20-23 loss to the St. Louis Rams.[8]

On December 2, 1997, he was claimed off waiver by the New Orleans Saints.[9] He was declared inactive in the last 3 games of the season. He was released on July 24, 1998.[10]

On October 14, 1999, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, to provide depth after Michael Irvin suffered a career-ending neck injury in the fourth game against the Philadelphia Eagles.[11] His jersey number 80 was used by Ernie Mills, so he chose to wear number 82. He appeared in 2 games as a reserve player and did not register any statistics. He was released on December 7.[12]

Harper finished his eight NFL seasons with 191 receptions for 3,473 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed once for 15 yards, completed a pass for 46 yards, and recorded one interception on defense.

In 2001, he was signed by the Memphis Maniax of the XFL, reuniting with head coach Kippy Brown, who was his wide receivers coach with the University of Tennessee. Harper was a backup wide receiver and only posted one reception for 8 yards.[13]

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