Is Marvin Harrison Jr. related to Marvin Harrison? Ohio State WR hopes to follow in famous father's footsteps

Kyle Irving

Is Marvin Harrison Jr. related to Marvin Harrison? Ohio State WR hopes to follow in famous father's footsteps image

The 2024 NFL Draft is just days away, and Ohio State star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to be one of the first names off the board.

Harrison was a Heisman Trophy finalist this past season, collecting 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns on 67 receptions for the Buckeyes. He has NFL size at 6-3, 202 pounds and is widely considered to be the best wide receiver in this class. Harrison is projected to go as early as No. 4 to the Cardinals.

If Harrison's name feels like it rings a bell, it should. You might remember his father, who was a decent football player, himself.

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Is Marvin Harrison Jr. related to Marvin Harrison?

If you couldn't tell by the name, yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. is related to Marvin Harrison.

The Ohio State star receiver is the son of the former Colts Hall of Famer who was Peyton Manning's favorite target in Indianapolis for 11 seasons.

MORE: Marvin Harrison Jr. scouting report: Can OSU star be as good as his father?

Marvin Harrison stats

Unlike his son, Marvin Sr. played his college football at Syracuse.

Over four seasons, Marvin Sr. racked up 135 receptions, 2,728 yards, and 20 touchdowns to establish himself as one of the top wide receivers in his class.

Year G Rec Yds TD
1992 11 2 23 0
1993 11 41 813 7
1994 11 36 761 5
1995 11 56 1,131 8
Total 44 135 2,728 20

He was even more dominant in the NFL, even holding the record for most receptions in a single season (143 in 2002) when he retired.

Year Age Tm G Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD
1996 24 IND 16 118 64 836 13.1 8
1997 25 IND 16 117 73 866 11.9 6
1998 26 IND 12 122 59 776 13.2 7
1999*+ 27 IND 16 184 115 1663 14.5 12
2000* 28 IND 16 169 102 1413 13.9 14
2001* 29 IND 16 164 109 1524 14 15
2002*+ 30 IND 16 205 143 1722 12 11
2003* 31 IND 15 142 94 1272 13.5 10
2004* 32 IND 16 139 86 1113 12.9 15
2005* 33 IND 15 134 82 1146 14 12
2006*+ 34 IND 16 148 95 1366 14.4 12
2007 35 IND 5 32 20 247 12.4 1
2008 36 IND 15 107 60 636 10.6 5
Totals -- -- 190 1,781 1,102 14,580 13.2 128

* = Pro Bowl season
+ = All-Pro season

2024 NFL DRAFT TOP 10 LISTS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | EDGE

Marvin Harrison Sr. NFL career

Marvin Sr. was also a first-round draft pick, selected 19th overall by the Colts in 1996. If projections are correct, Marvin Jr. will be picked well ahead of his father.

Marvin Sr. had a Hall of Fame career playing 13 seasons in Indianapolis. He became Manning's favorite target, racking up Colts franchise records for receptions (1,102), yards (14,580) and touchdowns (128).

Marvin Sr. won one Super Bowl title with the Colts and was a three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler.

Those are lofty expectations for Marvin Jr. to live up to, but the Hall of Famer's son is on the right trajectory.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.