South Charlotte Today

Longtime NFL assistant coach Cleveland "Chick" Harris has passed away at the age of 79. Harris, who served as the running backs coach for the Carolina Panthers during their first seven years, died after a battle with cancer on January 6. His family shared a statement expressing their loss: "It is with profound sadness that the family of Cleveland 'Chick' Harris announces the passing of our beloved father, husband, brother, mentor, and teacher... He touched the lives of countless players, coaches, and personnel and will be dearly missed."

Harris had a notable career in the NFL spanning from 1981 to 2014. He began his coaching journey under Chuck Knox in Buffalo before moving to Seattle. His tenure with the Panthers started when Dom Capers became head coach. Capers recalled their early days working together: "Chick was always one of my favorite guys to work with... He was always so upbeat, very positive."

During his time in Carolina, Harris worked alongside coordinator Joe Pendry and other experienced coaches such as Richard Williamson and Jim McNally. Known for his ability to inspire toughness in players while maintaining positivity, Harris made significant contributions to his teams.

His coaching legacy includes mentoring eight different running backs who achieved a total of 15 seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards each. Notable names include Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis and Arian Foster.

Harris is survived by his children Tarana, Kara, Tyler; and grandchildren Marley, Mila, Kinga, and Andrzej Cleveland.