Chris Harris is no longer a member of the Chicago Bears.
The safety was released by the team Thursday morning, after starting for the Bears in their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday in London.
“This caught me as a surprise and it didn’t catch me as a surprise,” Harris told “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “It caught me as a surprise coming off a start and then going into the office on Thursday and being told I’m being released.”
He said on the radio show that he’s healthy and is looking to join another team.
“Chris Harris helped us win a lot of football games around here, one of the guys, but it is a business and for us it’s about production,” coach Lovie Smith said, according to the Bears website.
Harris made the announcement on his official Twitter page, saying, “I was just released this morning by the Bears. Thank u for the opp to play football n do what I luv. I’m looking toward my next venture.”
After receiving some warm messages from his followers, Harris tweeted, “I just want to thank all u guys for the tremendous amount of support I have been receiving. U guys r the best. I really appreciate that.”
After playing in the first game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, in a game in which the Bears won 30-12, Harris didn’t play again until Week 5 against the Lions. He was out the next week, before returning again last Sunday.
The safety was benched after he struggled against the Lions, according to reports. After he was listed as inactive the following week, Harris requested a trade.
In three games this season Harris has eight tackles and no interceptions.
The seven-year veteran started his career with the Bears in 2005, and in 2007 he went to the Carolina Panthers. Harris returned to Chicago last season and appeared in 16 games, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
Apparently, he has taken the news of his release pretty well. Three hours after announcing on Twitter that he was let go by the game, Harris tweeted, “Wow I’m now trending on twitter. All it took was for me to get released……..Mama I made it.”
