9. Joey Harrington: An Oregon Son

The Mighty Oregon Podcast

Joey Harrington. Captain comeback. Oregon fans will forever have his late-game heroics embedded in their memories and his career vaulted the Ducks into the national conversation for football success. It always seemed if he was born for those moments. Born and raised in Portland, Harrington’s dad played quarterback with the Ducks. His grandfather played at the University of Portland. He truly is an Oregon son. And when he got his opportunity to take the field, the Oregon native showed that he belonged. And that Oregon son did some mighty things on the football field. He finished his college career with a 25-3 record. He was a Heisman finalist. He had a 10-story billboard in New York City. And in late-game situations, he was nearly unstoppable. He amassed an 11-2 record in which the Ducks trailed or were tied in the fourth quarter.

He was drafted in the NFL with the third pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2001 NFL Draft and put together a six-year career. But the success that he encountered on the field in Eugene did not follow him to Detroit. Many have called his NFL career one of the biggest busts in history.

What was really behind the wins and success? And what happened when football success disappeared?

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