Whether you are a player or a fan, certain moments stick out during any championship run. The New England Patriots know this as well as anyone.
After being a third-round pick by New England in the 2013 draft, Duron Harmon went to play seven seasons for the Patriots and helped the organization lay claim to three Super Bowl championships. On Wednesday, the cornerback who stepped up during the 2014 playoffs announced that he was calling it a career as he officially retired from the game of football.
Patriots Playoff Hero Duron Harmon Announces Retirement From NFL
For those who may not remember, Harmon recorded what he described as the "biggest pick of my life" when he intercepted a pass in the end zone thrown by Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco with less than two minutes remaining in New England's 35-31 victory in the AFC Division Round of the playoffs.
In a game where the Patriots looked dead in the water after falling behind the Ravens by 14 points on two separate occasions, Harmon, knowing that Flacco was likely to try to find Torrey Smith in crunch time, came up with that crucial interception interception. It secured one of the most thrilling playoff comebacks in franchise history.
While this particular comeback is not mentioned nearly as frequently as New England's 28-3 turnaround against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, it cannot be overlooked that Harmon was also on that Patriots roster. He ultimately contributed three tackles in the win to help the franchise pull off the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Harmon was ultimately traded by New England to the Detroit Lions before the 2020 season in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. After lasting one season in the Motor City, the former Rutgers University standout went on to join the Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Ravens, Chicago Bears, and, finally, the Cleveland Browns.
After not suiting up for any team during the 2024 campaign, Harmon officially hung up his cleats on Wednesday. His career may have led him all over the league by the end of his playing days, but Harmon will always be a playoff hero for the Patriots.
Fans just hope that Mike Vrabel and the new regime in charge can return the franchise to the same heights Harmon helped them reach during his glory days in New England.
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