Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 91 Days with Tommie Harris

Tommie Harris' dominant run with the Chicago Bears

In Chicago, Harris was able to get on the field immediately, starting in all 16 of the team's games in 2004. With 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss, Harris ended the season sixth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. The following season, Harris contributed three sacks and nine tackles for loss while again starting all 16 games, and would eventually be voted to the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team following the year.

In 2006, Harris had one of the best starts to a season in his career, racking in five sacks during the team's first four games, but would get injured during the team's 12th game, and would miss the last four games of the regular season, as well as the team's Super Bowl run. Nonetheless, Harris was voted to his second Pro Bowl, but entered the ensuing offseason focused on returning from injury.

By the start of the 2007 season, Harris's health had returned, and Harris himself returned to the starting lineup, logging 13 starts in 16 games during the year. Harris finished the season with eight sacks and seven tackles for loss and was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

Following the 2007 season, Harris signed a massive contract extension, surpassing division rival Ndamukong Suh as the league's highest-paid interior defensive lineman. During the ensuing 2008 season, Harris logged 13 starts in 14 games, and racked up five sacks and 11 tackles for loss, despite missing the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie campaign.