Cincinnati, OH – The Cincinnati Bengals signed linebacker James Harrison to a two-year contract on Friday.
Harrison was released by Pittsburgh early in March after a 10-year run since joining the club as an undrafted free agent in 2002. While in Pittsburgh, his clubs dominated the Bengals, winning 16 of 21 games, including a playoff victory in the 2005 season.
He was released in 2003, but came back in 2004 and became one of the team's leaders, helping the franchise to a pair of Super Bowl titles in his time in the Steel City.
Harrison started 95 of the 131 games he played with the Steelers and ranks fourth in franchise history with 64 sacks. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, earned five straight trips to the Pro Bowl from 2007-11 and was named All-Pro three times.
In addition, Harrison played 12 postseason games with the Steelers and registered the longest interception return in Super Bowl history with a 100- yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
In 13 games last season, Harrison had 70 tackles with six sacks. He notched double-digit sack totals three times during his career, most recently in 2010.
Harrison is also known as one of the hardest hitters in the league, which has led to numerous fines from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
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