Marvin Harrison Jr. is the son of Marvin Harrison Sr. and Dawne Harrison. His father is a former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. His mother has largely stayed out of the spotlight, although Harrison Jr. has spoken publicly about the important role she played in his upbringing. He also has a younger brother, Jett Harrison, who is pursuing his own football career.
Harrison Jr. was born on August 11, 2002, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He developed into one of the leading wide receiver prospects in college football before the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. In October 2026, he became the subject of another major NFL headline when Houston acquired him from Arizona in a reported trade.
His family story is interesting because it brings together a Hall of Fame football career, a comparatively private family life, and two brothers who have both pursued the same sport.
Who Is Marvin Harrison Sr., Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Father?
Marvin Harrison Sr. is a former NFL wide receiver best known for his long career with the Indianapolis Colts. He played for the franchise from 1996 through the 2008 season and became one of the most productive receivers of his era.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame records his career totals as 1,102 receptions, 14,580 receiving yards and 128 receiving touchdowns. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls, earned six All-Pro selections and helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI after the 2006 season. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
His achievements established a high standard for his son, who eventually became a highly rated receiver in his own right.
Marvin Harrison Sr.’s early football career
Harrison Sr. was born in Philadelphia and played college football at Syracuse University. The Indianapolis Colts selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft.
He made an immediate impact in Indianapolis, finishing his rookie season with 64 receptions for 836 yards and eight touchdowns. His career grew further after quarterback Peyton Manning joined the Colts in 1998. Their partnership became one of the most productive quarterback-receiver combinations in NFL history.
Harrison Sr. was known for his precise route-running, dependable hands and ability to find space against defenders. His performance over multiple seasons helped make him one of the defining receivers of his generation.
His biggest NFL achievements
Some of Harrison Sr.’s most significant accomplishments include:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2016.
- Eight Pro Bowl selections: Recognition of his sustained performance.
- 1,102 career receptions: Recorded during his 13-season NFL career.
- 14,580 receiving yards: One of the major statistical achievements of his career.
- 128 receiving touchdowns: His career total with Indianapolis.
- Super Bowl champion: Helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI.
- Single-season receiving record: Caught 143 passes in 2002, setting an NFL single-season record at the time. Football Hall of Fame+1
Those accomplishments are central to understanding why interest in Harrison Jr. often includes questions about his father. The younger Harrison entered professional football with a famous surname, but his own college performances helped establish his reputation before the NFL Draft.
Who Is Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Mother, Dawne Harrison?
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s mother is Dawne Harrison. Compared with her husband and son, she has maintained a low public profile. She is not a regular presence in sports media, and publicly available information about her personal life is limited.
Profiles of the Harrison family have described Dawne as an important source of support during her son’s childhood and football development. A Sporting News profile, drawing on comments Harrison Jr. made to Cleveland.com in 2023, reported that she worked two jobs while he was growing up, including work at a hospital and as a fitness instructor. The profile also described her as someone he could speak with about matters beyond football, including his mental and academic well-being.
That account offers useful context about the family environment in which Harrison Jr. grew up. It also illustrates that his development was not solely about following his father’s professional example. Support away from the field was part of his upbringing, too.
Why Dawne Harrison stays out of the spotlight
There is no need to assume that a private public profile means a lack of involvement. Dawne has simply not pursued the same level of public attention as her husband’s football career or her son’s professional journey.
Because she keeps much of her life private, details about her age, career history and personal activities should not be treated as confirmed unless supported by reliable sources. The best-documented information about her role comes from profiles that discuss her support for her son and his own comments about their relationship.
Does Marvin Harrison Jr. Have a Brother?
Yes. Marvin Harrison Jr. has a younger brother named Jett Harrison, who is also a football player. Jett attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, the same high school that helped shape his older brother’s football career. In 2026, St. Joseph’s Prep reported that Jett had committed to Ohio State University, following the path his older brother took from high school to college football.
Jett’s commitment has drawn attention because Ohio State was where Harrison Jr. became one of the most highly regarded receivers in college football. However, Jett is building his own career, and his eventual performance should be judged on his own results rather than comparisons with his brother.
Jett Harrison’s football ambitions
Jett has been described by St. Joseph’s Prep as a highly rated wide receiver. His commitment to Ohio State creates a clear connection between the brothers’ football journeys, but it does not guarantee that their college experiences or professional prospects will be identical.
For fans, the family connection is notable because both brothers have played at St. Joseph’s Prep and are linked to Ohio State. Their shared background offers a glimpse into how a football environment can continue across generations and siblings.
Will Jett follow his brother into the NFL?
It is too early to say. A college commitment is an important step, but it is not the same as becoming an NFL player. Jett will need to develop at Ohio State, compete for playing time and demonstrate his ability against high-level college competition.
Any claim that he will duplicate his brother’s draft position or NFL success would be speculation. His future should be assessed as his own football career progresses.
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Childhood in Philadelphia
Marvin Harrison Jr. was born and raised in Philadelphia, the same city associated with his father’s early life. He grew up around football, but his athletic development also included basketball. He attended La Salle College High School before transferring to St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, where he became a standout wide receiver.
Having a father who had reached the highest level of professional football meant Harrison Jr. was familiar with the sport’s demands. But his own playing record developed through high school and college competition, where his performances provided evidence of his ability beyond his family name.
His high school career at St. Joseph’s Prep
At St. Joseph’s Prep, Harrison Jr. played a key role in three consecutive Pennsylvania Class 6A state championship teams. He finished his high school career with 144 receptions, 2,625 receiving yards and 37 receiving touchdowns, according to the Arizona Cardinals’ player biography. The receiving-yardage and touchdown totals were Philadelphia Catholic League career records cited in that profile.
Those results helped establish him as a leading recruit. He was rated a four-star prospect and attracted interest from major college football programs before choosing Ohio State.
His high school career matters because it shows the foundation of his later success. He did not arrive at Ohio State solely as the son of a famous NFL player; he brought a strong record of production from a competitive high school program.
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Ohio State Career
Harrison Jr. played three seasons for the Ohio State Buckeyes, from 2021 through 2023. Across 38 games, he recorded 155 receptions for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns, according to the Cardinals’ official player biography.
He became a leading target in Ohio State’s offense and earned national recognition for his production as a sophomore and junior.
Awards and major college milestones
His college accomplishments included:
- Biletnikoff Award: Won in 2023 as college football’s outstanding receiver.
- Two-time unanimous first-team All-American: Earned the distinction in 2022 and 2023.
- 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist: Recognized among the leading players in college football.
- Big Ten honors: Earned major conference recognition following his 2023 season.
- Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons: Recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards in both 2022 and 2023.
Arizona Cardinals+1
These achievements made Harrison Jr. one of the most closely watched players entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
How Marvin Harrison Jr. Followed His Father Into the NFL
The Arizona Cardinals selected Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His father had also been a first-round selection, taken 19th overall by Indianapolis in 1996. The Cardinals noted that the pair became the first father-son wide receiver duo in the Common Draft Era, dating to 1957, to each be selected in the first round.
That distinction makes their family story unusual in professional football. Both father and son reached the NFL through the first round, even though they entered the league in different eras and played for different teams.
Harrison Jr.’s rookie season
In his first NFL season in 2024, Harrison Jr. recorded 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. The Cardinals’ official biography notes that his eight receiving touchdowns tied the franchise’s rookie record.
The transition from college football to the NFL can be challenging for even highly rated prospects. Harrison Jr.’s rookie statistics gave him a substantial starting point as he adjusted to professional defenses and the demands of a full NFL season.
His second season and 2026 trade
Harrison Jr.’s second season was less productive statistically. The Cardinals’ official biography records 41 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, while Reuters reported that he had five catches for 85 yards and one touchdown through four games in 2026 before the trade announcement.
On October 11, 2026, Cardinals coverage confirmed that Harrison Jr. was being traded to the Houston Texans. Reuters reported that Houston would send Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The move is a significant change in the young receiver’s professional career. It does not change his family background or past achievements, but it creates a new opportunity for him to establish his role with another NFL team.
What Officials and Organizations Have Said
Official football records provide the clearest foundation for understanding Harrison Jr.’s career and family connection.
The Arizona Cardinals’ player biography documents his draft selection, college statistics, high school achievements and relationship to Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. The Pro Football Hall of Fame records his father’s NFL career, including his 1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns.
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School has also publicly documented Jett Harrison’s football path and his commitment to Ohio State. These institutional sources are useful because they confirm key career milestones without relying solely on celebrity-family speculation.
For the October 2026 trade, the Cardinals’ own reporting and Reuters coverage provide the most relevant information currently available. The trade is a professional football transaction; it is not evidence of any change in Harrison Jr.’s personal or family relationships.
Why Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Family Story Matters
The Harrison family story attracts attention for three main reasons.
First, it connects two generations of NFL wide receivers. Marvin Harrison Sr. built a Hall of Fame career, and his son became a first-round NFL draft pick. Their shared achievement is unusual, but their careers remain separate records of performance.
Second, it highlights the support behind an athlete’s development. Dawne Harrison has kept a low profile, but Harrison Jr.’s reported comments about her role show that his support system extends beyond football coaching and public expectations.
Third, Jett Harrison is creating another link between the family and college football. His Ohio State commitment means the school that helped launch his older brother’s national profile will also be part of his own development. What happens after that remains to be seen.
The latest NFL trade adds another dimension. Harrison Jr. now faces a change of team early in his professional career. His family background will continue to be part of his public story, but his future standing in the league will depend on his own performances.
What Happens Next for Marvin Harrison Jr.?
The confirmed next chapter is his move from Arizona to Houston. The Texans acquired him in the October 2026 trade announced by head coach DeMeco Ryans, as reported by Reuters and the Cardinals’ official coverage.
The key questions are how quickly Harrison Jr. settles into Houston’s offense, what role the team gives him and whether he can return to the level of production that made him a top NFL prospect. Those outcomes cannot be known in advance.
For his younger brother Jett, the next major milestone is his college career at Ohio State. For the family as a whole, the best-supported story is one of two brothers pursuing football in their own ways, alongside the legacy of a father whose career earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
FAQs
1. Who are Marvin Harrison Jr.’s parents?
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s parents are Marvin Harrison Sr., a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, and Dawne Harrison, who has maintained a largely private public profile.
2. Is Marvin Harrison Sr. in the NFL Hall of Fame?
Yes. Marvin Harrison Sr. was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 after a 13-season NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts.
3. Who is Marvin Harrison Jr.’s mother?
His mother is Dawne Harrison. Profiles of the family have described her as an important source of support during his childhood, though she generally stays out of the public spotlight.
4. Does Marvin Harrison Jr. have a brother?
Yes. His younger brother is Jett Harrison, a football player who attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia and committed to Ohio State in 2026.
5. Where did Marvin Harrison Jr. grow up?
Harrison Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 2002. He attended La Salle College High School before transferring to St. Joseph’s Preparatory School.
6. Where did Marvin Harrison Jr. play college football?
He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2021 through 2023. He won the Biletnikoff Award in 2023 and was a unanimous first-team All-American in both 2022 and 2023.
7. When was Marvin Harrison Jr. drafted into the NFL?
The Arizona Cardinals selected him fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. His father was also a first-round pick, selected by the Indianapolis Colts in 1996.
8. Which NFL team acquired Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2026?
The Houston Texans acquired Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade announced on October 11, 2026. Reuters reported that Houston sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Arizona, receiving Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round pick in return.
9. How many receiving touchdowns did Marvin Harrison Sr. score in his NFL career?
Harrison Sr. finished his NFL career with 128 receiving touchdowns, along with 1,102 receptions and 14,580 receiving yards.
10. Is Marvin Harrison Jr. expected to match his father’s Hall of Fame career?
It is too early to know. Harrison Jr. had an accomplished college career and was selected fourth overall in the NFL Draft, but matching his father’s long-term production and Hall of Fame achievements would depend on his performance over many professional seasons.
