After sustaining a long list of injuries, or what he calls “bumps and bruises,” LT alumnus and Northwestern University cornerback Matthew Harris ‘13 has decided to hang up his cleats and retire.

“After every injury, you think what the effects could be in the long-term and how that can impact your life,” Harris said. “It just got to a point where I didn’t want to risk accomplishing my ultimate goal.”

Although one of Harris’ goals has always been to reach the NFL, he believes his ultimate goal is to have his own family and become a successful, well-rounded individual outside of football. This goal seems very achievable in the eyes of his former LT varsity head coach Kurt Weinberg.

“The bottom line is that he’s very intelligent and he’s got a lot of things going for him,” Weinberg said. “He’s going to do great things in life, and he’s got to take care of himself.”

Harris’ career at Northwestern has been successful ever since his first year, when he became one of two freshmen to see the field. From that point on he earned a spot as a starter who racked up a career total of 161 tackles, 26 passes defended and six interceptions. He announced his decision to retire in October of his 2016 season after sustaining a concussion. When informing his team of his decision, they erupted in a standing ovation, expressing their gratitude for all that he has done for the team.

“It was tough,” close friend and NU teammate Keith Watkins II said. “When he actually went up and said it in front of the team, it really hit home, right then and there. We realized he’s really not going to be playing anymore.”

Overall, Harris’ family, teammates and coaches have expressed nothing but support for his decision. NU Head coach Pat Fitzgerald called Harris the night of the injury, telling him he supported whatever he wanted to do, even providing other options in case he wanted to continue playing. Both the support from the NU community as well as the LT community has proven to be a great help, Harris said.

“I have to weigh my friends and family just because they’re the ones who have always been there for me,” Harris said. “But at the end of the day it’s my life, and I’m going to do what’s best for me.”

Still, the decision was not easy. Throughout the years, football has grown to be so much more than just a game, Harris said. His love for the game was something everyone understood, which eventually led him to be elected a team captain his senior year at NU. His selection for this position reveals how Harris has continually demonstrated incredible work ethic not only throughout the season, but ever since he stepped on campus, Watkins said.

The future for Harris is unclear. He is currently majoring in learning and organizational change and plans to continue his education at a graduate business school. Football wise, he still wants to compete and contribute to the community, much like he did this past summer when he received the NU For Life Irving Kabiller Memorial Award for Excellence in Character, Commitment and Community. This award provided him with a $5,000 grant, which he used to strengthen leadership skills for underprivileged kids in the Evanston and Chicagoland areas. Work like this is only the beginning for Harris.

“We often use [Harris] as an example of how to go about your business,” Weinberg said. “It’s not just about being a football player, you have to be a great citizen and someone who’s a positive influence in the halls. Ask anyone who had any dealings at all with Matthew Harris and they’ll say what a wonderful person he is. There’s no doubt his legacy still walks around here.”