Clay Harbor

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Clay Harbor

| image = Clay Harbor.jpg

| caption = Harbor with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014

| current_team =

| number = 82, 86, 81, 84

| position = Tight end

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|7|2}}

| birth_place = Libertyville, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 240

| high_school = Dwight (IL)

| college = Missouri State (2005–2009)

| draftyear = 2010

| draftround = 4

| draftpick = 125

| pastteams =

Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})
Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2016}})
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2016}})
New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2017}})
Team 9 ({{XFL Year|2020}})*

| status =

| highlights =

First-team All-American (2009)

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 114

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 1,170

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 8

| pfr = HarbCl00

}}

Clayton Lee Harbor (born July 2, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the Missouri State Bears. He was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and New Orleans Saints.

Early life and education

Harbor is the son of Jeff Harbor and Donna Norman. He grew up in Dwight, Illinois and attended Dwight High School, which had a graduating class of only 74 during Harbor's senior year. He was a four-year letterman in football, basketball, and track. In his final three seasons, he earned All-Interstate 8 Conference honors in each sport. In football, Harbor played wide receiver and safety, and broke the school record with 60 receptions, 1,079 yards, and 19 touchdowns.

Harbor was not offered a scholarship in football, and decided to try and earn a basketball scholarship until he sustained an injury during his senior basketball season. Harbor's brother Cory, who played linebacker for the Missouri State Bears, persuaded the coaches at Missouri State to give Harbor a chance, and he was offered a scholarship.[http://legacy.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/harbor_1.html Eagles Media Guide] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406173201/http://legacy.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/harbor_1.html |date=April 6, 2012 }}

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration and Management from Missouri State University and is currently pursuing Master of Business Administration student at Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington.{{Cite web |url=https://bvmsports.com/2025/06/14/where-are-they-now-te-clay-harbors-inspiring-journey/ |title=Where Are They Now? TE Clay Harbor’s Inspiring Journey|access-date=June 18, 2025}}

College career

During his freshman year at Missouri State, Harbor was redshirted. The following year, as a redshirt freshman, he played in 11 games, starting two of the eleven at wide receiver. He caught six passes for 73 yards in 2006. His best game that season was in a win against Southwest Baptist University (of the NAIA), in which he recorded three receptions for 34 yards, including a touchdown. He also caught a 31-yard pass against Oklahoma State.{{Cite web |url=http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/harbor_clay00.html |title=Missouri State Bio |access-date=December 7, 2011 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415013052/http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/harbor_clay00.html |url-status=dead }}

Harbor switched positions as a redshirt sophomore in 2007, moving from wide receiver to tight end. Against Southern Illinois, he caught seven passes for 87 yards. He made five receptions for 106 yards against Indiana State University, and he set school records for receptions and yards in a single season as a tight end with 45 receptions and 647 yards. Following the season, he earned Associated Press third-team All-America and first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) honors. As a sophomore, he was named Missouri State's offensive player of the year.

As a junior, he led the Bears with 40 receptions for 457 yards. He earned second-team Associated Press All-America honors after the season. By the end of his junior season, he kept his streak alive of 22 consecutive games with a reception. Twice he earned Missouri State University Coors Player of the Week in his junior season. He also broke the 1,000 career receiving yard mark on his way to receive first-team All-MVFC honors for the second straight year as well as Missouri State's Offensive Player of the Year.

As a senior, he tallied 59 receptions, which was second-most in the nation among tight ends, with 729 yards. He was first among tight ends in receiving yards per game with 66.3 yards. He ended his career as the all-time receptions leader at Missouri State with 150 as well as third in receiving yards with 1,906. Following the season, he earned Football Championship Subdivision first-team All-America honors and first-team All-MVFC honors for the third straight year. He was also placed on the MVFC All-Silver Anniversary Squad.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 2 5/8

| weight = 252

| dash = 4.58

| ten split = 1.65

| twenty split = 2.69

| shuttle = 4.36

| cone drill = 7.12

| vertical = 40.0

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 0

| bench = 30

| arm span = 32 5/8

| hand span = 9 1/2

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/clay-harbor/32004841-5200-7683-8363-3f32a350f476 |title=Clay Harbor Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=January 20, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=81318&DraftYear=2010 |title=Clay Harbor College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=January 20, 2025}}

}}

Harbor was one of 20 players selected to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine from the FCS or a lower division. Among tight ends, he finished first in the bench press with 30 repetitions of 225 pounds, second in the vertical jump with 40 inches, and fourth in the 40-yard dash with 4.62 seconds.[http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/clay-harbor?id=497242 NFL Combine]. {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302141544/http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/clay-harbor?id=497242|date=2010-03-02}}

=Philadelphia Eagles=

Harbor was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft with the 125th overall pick.{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was signed to a four-year contract worth $2.243 million with $453,000 guaranteed on June 15, 2010.{{Cite web |last=McPherson, Chris |date=June 15, 2010 |title=Four-Year Deals For Kafka, Harbor |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=21224 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619060532/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=21224 |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |access-date=June 15, 2010 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}}{{Cite web |last=Caplan, Adam |date=June 15, 2010 |title=PHI: Two 4th-Rounders Sign |url=http://minnesota.scout.com/a.z?s=176&p=9&c=2&cid=977550&nid=4305024&fhn=1 |access-date=June 16, 2010 |website=Scout.com}} In 2010, he recorded nine receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. Against the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie, he caught three passes for 55 yards and had a touchdown reception.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110504061317/http://legacy.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/harbor_1.html Eagles Media Guide] Harbor was released by the team on August 31, 2013.{{cite web | last=Gitlin | first=Marty | title=Eagles let Clay Harbor sail away | website=CBSSports.com | date=2013-08-31 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/eagles-let-clay-harbor-sail-away/ | access-date=2025-06-01}}

=Jacksonville Jaguars=

Harbor was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 1, 2013. He played all 16 games in the 2013 season for the Jaguars, catching 24 passes for 292 yards, and scoring two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Clay Harbor 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarbCl00/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

=New England Patriots=

On March 30, 2016 Harbor signed with the New England Patriots. On October 3, 2016, he was released by the Patriots.{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2016 |title=Patriots release TE Clay Harbor |url=http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/10/03/patriots-release-te-clay-harbor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003223558/https://www.patriots.com/news/2016/10/03/patriots-release-te-clay-harbor |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2016 |website=Patriots.com}}

=Detroit Lions=

On October 4, 2016, Harbor was signed by the Lions.{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2016 |title=Lions sign TE Clay Harbor, release TE Orson Charles |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-TE-Clay-Harbor-release-TE-Orson-Charles/edaebf3a-d0ef-46fe-ac94-d0e2a265e726 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221204405/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-TE-Clay-Harbor-release-TE-Orson-Charles/edaebf3a-d0ef-46fe-ac94-d0e2a265e726 |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |website=DetroitLions.com}}

=New Orleans Saints=

On May 14, 2017, Harbor was signed by the New Orleans Saints.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2017 |title=Saints Announce Roster Moves After Rookie Minicamp |url=http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Saints-Announce-Roster-Moves-After-Rookie-Minicamp/bcb464d1-d42b-4f6b-b488-6525f760f657 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517213729/http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Saints-Announce-Roster-Moves-After-Rookie-Minicamp/bcb464d1-d42b-4f6b-b488-6525f760f657 |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |access-date=May 16, 2017 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 28, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Parks, James |date=August 28, 2017 |title=Saints place Clay Harbor on injured reserve |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-orleans-saints/article/new-orleans-saints-place-clay-harbor-on-injured-reserve-106601057/ |website=247Sports.com}}

=Team 9=

Harbor signed with the XFL's Team 9 practice squad on March 10, 2020.{{Cite news |date=March 10, 2020 |title=Around the XFL: Sizing up Week 5 |work=XFL.com |url=https://www.xfl.com/en-US/articles/around-the-xfl-sizing-up-week-5 |access-date=March 11, 2020}} He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.{{Cite news |last=Condotta, Bob |date=April 10, 2020 |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |work=SeattleTimes.com |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |access-date=July 17, 2020}}

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2"| Legend

Bold

| Career high

=Regular season=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2010	PHI \| 9 \|\| 6 \|\| 9 \|\| 72 \|\| 8.0 \|\| 24 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2011	PHI \| 16 \|\| 3 \|\| 13 \|\| 163 \|\| 12.5 \|\| 27 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2012	PHI \| 14 \|\| 9 \|\| 25 \|\| 186 \|\| 7.4 \|\| 19 \|\| 2 \|\| 1 \|\| 1
2013	JAX \| 16 \|\| 7 \|\| 24 \|\| 292 \|\| 12.2 \|\| 31 \|\| 2 \|\| 2 \|\| 1
2014	JAX \| 13 \|\| 8 \|\| 26 \|\| 289 \|\| 11.1 \|\| 59 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2015	JAX \| 15 \|\| 3 \|\| 14 \|\| 149 \|\| 10.6 \|\| 26 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
rowspan="2"\|2016	NE \| 3 \|\| 0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
DET \| 12 \|\| 2 \|\| 3 \|\| 19 \|\| 6.3 \|\| 9 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2017	NO \| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| colspan="12"\| did not play due to injury
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarbCl00.htm Career] ! 98	38	114	1,170	10.3	59	8	3	2

=Postseason=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2010	PHI \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
2016	DET \| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
2017	NO \| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| colspan="12"\| did not play due to injury
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarbCl00.htm Career] ! 2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Reality television

Harbor was a contestant on the 14th season of The Bachelorette, starring Rebecca "Becca" Kufrin, in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Ruiz, Steven |date=May 17, 2018 |title=2 ex-NFL players (including Aly Raisman's ex) will be on 'The Bachelorette' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2018/05/17/2-exnfl-players-including-aly-raismans-ex-will-appear-on-the-bachelorette/111165084/ |access-date=May 18, 2018 |website=USA Today}} Harbor, however, left the show after injuring his wrist while playing tackle football with the other contestants. The injury required surgery.{{Cite magazine |last=Baldwin, Kristen |date=June 11, 2018 |title=The Bachelorette recap: 'Cheers to you for being a bitch' |url=http://ew.com/recap/the-bachelorette-season-14-episode-3/4/ |access-date=June 11, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143133/http://ew.com/recap/the-bachelorette-season-14-episode-3/4/ |url-status=dead }}

He was on the sixth season of Bachelor in Paradise in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Swartz, Tracy |date=August 13, 2019 |title=NFL player from Illinois in the middle of 'Bachelor in Paradise' drama |work=The Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-bachelor-in-paradise-clay-harbor-20190814-fswlhrjngzefhgqagsvfqalrxy-story.html |access-date=August 20, 2019}}