Rob Gronkowski may not be the only 30-something retire NFL athlete trying to make a comeback in 2020. On Wednesday morning ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported that 31-year old retired receiver Percy Harvin was also mulling over a return to the NFL.
“I’m ready to return to the NFL,” Harvin told Anderson. “I thought I was done but that itch came back. I’ve been training with a former Olympian. My body is feeling good. Mentally I’m better. My family is good. The timing is right.”
Harvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings 22nd overall in the 2009 draft. He played four seasons with the Vikings, amassing 3,985 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns.
Harvin was electric when he was healthy but hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 when he played in just two games with the Buffalo Bills. He played in only five games for the Bills the previous season with the Bills as well.
“I knew I wasn’t functioning right, not only physically, just all around the board,” Harvin told Anderson. “I had to get in contact with myself.”
Harvin has been training in Gainesville with former U.S. Olympian Tim Montgomery. Montgomery owns NUMA Speed in Gainesville and has worked with Antonio Callaway, Josh Gordon and several other Florida athletes in Gainesville.
Harvin posted 353 receptions in 61 career games in the NFL. He was inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. In three seasons for the Gators Harvin was an All-American (2008) and a two-time National Champion.
Breaking: Former 1st-rounder, FA WR Percy Harvin tells me: “I’m ready to return to the NFL. I thought I was done, but that itch came back. I’ve been training w/a former Olympian. My body is feeling good. Mentally I’m better. My family is good. The timing is right.” He's 185lbs. pic.twitter.com/NQaadbF73B
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 22, 2020
WR Percy Harvin’s new agent Alvin Keels told me just now he’s already getting to work fielding calls with teams looking for a WR with NFL experience during an offseason training period impacted by the CoVID19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/9yCDSLclUL
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 22, 2020
Percy Harvin told me while out of NFL: “I had a dream a while ago when 12 was with the #Patriots, that I would play for Tom Brady. That was well before the pandemic & he went to the Bucs, my comeback was already in the works. But I’m ready for any offense that'll just let me go." pic.twitter.com/nZqAdD5uS1
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 22, 2020
WR Percy Harvin, 31, last played for the #Bills in Nov. 2016 tells me he didn’t file retirement papers after walking away again with injury pain & other issues. “I knew I wasn’t functioning right, not only physically, just all around the board. I had to get in contact w/ myself.” pic.twitter.com/6j9YdMH6O5
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 22, 2020