Napoleon Harris

Napoleon Harris
Harris with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008
Supervisor of Thornton Township
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 19, 2025
Preceded byTiffany Henyard
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2013
Preceded byJames T. Meeks
Personal details
BornNapoleon Bill Harris III
(1979-02-25) February 25, 1979
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
Football career
No. 58, 50, 99
PositionLinebacker
Personal information
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolThornton Township (IL)
CollegeNorthwestern
NFL draft2002: 1st round, 23rd overall pick
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles484
Sacks8.5
Forced fumbles4
Fumble recoveries1
Interceptions4
Defensive touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference 

Napoleon Bill Harris III[1] (born February 25, 1979) is an American politician and former professional football player who has been a member of the Illinois Senate representing the 15th district since 2013. The 15th district stretches from Blue Island in the north, Calumet City in the east, Homewood in the west, Steger in the south, and includes all or parts of Crete-Monee, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Thornton, Dixmoor, Markham, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Harvey, Riverdale, and South Holland.[2]

Prior to his service in the Illinois Senate, he played as a linebacker for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City Chiefs at various times.

Early life

Harris grew up in Dixmoor, Illinois.[3] He attended Lincoln Elementary School, Rosa L. Parks Middle School, and Thornton Township High School. He was a tri-star athlete and honor student. His father Napoleon Harris Jr. died his junior year of high school. His mother Brenda Faye Bowman Harris, raised Napoleon and his siblings, Tomeika and Jonathan as a single mother. Napoleon was determined to make his family proud and put them in a better position by using his brains and his athletic ability.

Harris was an honors student at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois and lettered in football and basketball. In football, he posted 23 sacks, 98 tackles, two fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, two safeties, and one interception and was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Star Publications, Daily Southtown, and the Hammond Times. Napoleon also averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds on the No. 1 basketball team in the country.

Napoleon Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Northwestern University, where he played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats. For one year, he was a two sport athlete playing basketball. His complete college career ranked 11th on Northwestern's all-time tackles list with 334. All-Big Ten Conference as a senior after starting all 11 games at defensive end after moving from outside linebacker and ranked fourth on team in tackles with 78.

NFL career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		 253 lb
(115 kg)		 32 in
(0.81 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.55 s 1.60 s 2.64 s 4.44 s 7.15 s 34 in
(0.86 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 27 reps
All measurables were taken at the NFL Scouting Combine;[4] see also scouting report

Harris was selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Oakland Raiders, the 23rd overall pick.[5] That year, he started 13 of 16 regular-season games, all three playoff games, and Super Bowl XXXVII for the Oakland Raiders and was named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team.

In 2005, Harris was acquired by the Minnesota Vikings as part of blockbuster trade which sent Randy Moss to Oakland for the seventh overall pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft. The Vikings used the picks to select wide receiver Troy Williamson and cornerback Adrian Ward. Despite being traded for one of the premier players in the National Football League, Harris did not immediately live up to his potential the following season with the Minnesota Vikings. In that first season with the Vikings, he was hampered with a lingering knee injury and saw limited playing time. However, in the second season he finished second on the team with 96 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries in 14 games.

On March 6, 2007, Harris agreed to a six-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.[6][7] The Chiefs released Harris on October 14, 2008. Just two days after his release from the Chiefs, Harris re-joined the Minnesota Vikings on October 16. Harris started in 5 of the 10 games he played and finished his second stint with the Vikings with 32 tackles and 1 sack, and also scored his first NFL touchdown after returning a fumble 27 yards in week 12 in Jacksonville. Despite a fairly good performance, the Vikings did not hold on to him.

In May 2008, Napoleon appeared on The CW Network series The Game.[8] Harris signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders on August 24, 2009, after the team released cornerback Ricky Manning, but was released five days later.[9]

NFL statistics

Years Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG IR TD PD
2002 OAK 15 81 59 22 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2003 OAK 16 107 74 33 2.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2004 OAK 14 61 47 14 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2005 MIN 15 25 18 7 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2006 MIN 14 59 42 17 2.5 1 0 0 3 20 7 11 0 4
2007 KC 16 116 82 34 1.5 1 0 0 1 4 4 4 0 3
2008 MIN 10 32 24 8 1.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 100 481 346 135 8.5 5 1 0 4 24 6 11 0 15

Source: ESPN.[10]

Personal life

Harris is married to Nicole M. Bunton Harris with three children. Napoleon Nico Harris IV, Noah Bill Harris and Nahla Nicole Harris. After leaving the NFL, Harris, his wife, and children became the owner of two Beggars Pizza locations.

Napoleon is very active not only in the community but as a father, he coaches basketball for both of his son's AAU teams and also runs drills with his daughter with tennis. His children have his athletic skills as all three of them have won many awards and championships within their respective sports.

Andre Lydell Bunton was the brother-in-law of Senator Napoleon B. Harris III. He was tragically murdered on July 18, 2013, in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. At 37 years old, Bunton was sitting in his car when he was shot in the chest. He attempted to drive away but lost control, crashing into two parked vehicles before succumbing to his injuries .

Illinois Senate (2013–present)

In 2011, after Illinois State Senator James Meeks announced his retirement, Harris chose to run to succeed him in the 15th district on a platform of creating economic growth for the district.[11] He won the 2012 primary with a plurality of the vote against two opponents,[12] and ran in the general election unopposed.[13]

In 2024, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on questionable use of senate campaign committee funds by Harris. The Sun-Tiems characterized several of these expenses as appearing to be for personal luxuries. In August 2025, Harris's campaign attorney, Burt Odelson, stated that Harris would reimburse his committee $20,000 for some of these expenditures.[14]

Committees

As of July 2022, Senator Harris is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees:[15]

  • (chairman of) Appropriations – Personnel and Procurement Committee (SAPP-SAPP)
  • Appropriations – Revenue and Finance Committee (SAPP-SARF)
  • Appropriations – Government Infrastructure Committee (SAPP-SAGI)
  • Appropriations Committee (SAPP)
  • Commerce Committee (SCOM)
  • (Co-chairman of) Critical Energy Infrastructure and Grid Reliability (SENE-ECEI)
  • Energy and Public Utilities Committee (SENE)
  • Executive Committee (SEXC)
  • Executive – Cannabis Committee (SEXC-SEOC)
  • (chairman of) Executive – Tobacco Committee (SEXC-STOB)
  • Health Committee (SHEA)
  • (chairman of) Insurance Committee (SINS)
  • Pensions Committee (SPEN)
  • (chairman of) Redistricting – South Cook County (SRED)
  • Subcommittee on Public Health (SHEA-SHPH)

2013 congressional campaign and 2016 U.S. Senate campaign

While a member of the Illinois Senate, Harris has run for higher office on two occasions. In 2013, Harris ran for the congressional seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr.,[16] but dropped out after two months, endorsing Robin Kelly.[17] In 2015, he announced his candidacy in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2016.[18] He would come in third place, losing to Tammy Duckworth, who would go on to win the general election.

Democratic Committeeman from Thornton Township (2022–present)

After the death of Frank Zuccarelli, the longtime Thornton Township Democratic committeeman, Harris defeated State Representative Thaddeus Jones for the position.[19] The role is a position within the Illinois Democratic Party.

Harris is seeking re-election for the position in 2026. His ballot petition faced an unsuccessful signature challenge by his opponents.[20]

Thornton Township Supervisor (2025–present)

Harris became the Democratic nominee for Thornton Township Supervisor (township executive) after a township Democratic nominating caucus on December 3, 2024, defeating the scandal-plagued incumbent supervisor Tiffany Henyard for the nomination.[21] Harris won the four-way race for township supervisor in the consolidated election on April 1, 2025, with 74% of the vote cast.[22] He was sworn in on May 19, 2025.[23]

He is the first African American man elected to the position. While his predecessor –Henyard– was also African American, she had been merely appointed to the position to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frank Zuccarelli.[24]

Henyard, while supervisor, had enacted an ordinance that would have caused any successor of her's to be paid a $57,000 annual salary instead of the $200,000 she was paid as supervisor. However, before becoming supervisor, House (as a state senator) included a rider in an enacted piece of state legislation which preempted the township ordinance clause that would of reduced the salary. As a result of House's own state rider, he has earned a $200,000 salary as supervisor.[25]

Electoral history

State Senate

Illinois 15th State Senate District Democratic Primary, 2012[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Napoleon Harris 10,172 43.64
Democratic Donna Miller 8,209 35.22
Democratic Patricia "Pat" Mahon 4,928 21.14
Total votes 23,309 100
Illinois 15th State Senate General Election, 2012[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Napoleon Harris 73,762 100
Total votes 73,762 100
Illinois 15th State Senate General Election, 2014[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Napoleon Harris (incumbent) 49,577 100
Total votes 49,577 100
Illinois 15th State Senate General Election, 2018[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Napoleon B. Harris III (incumbent) 59,332 100
Total votes 59,332 100

Democratic Committeeperson

Thornton Township Democratic Committeeperson election[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Napoleon B. Harris III (incumbent) 4,689 30.08
Democratic Thaddeus Jones 4,648 29.82
Democratic Terry R. Wells 3,242 20.80
Democratic Kenneth Williams 2,322 14.90
Democratic Troy O'Quin 686 4.40
Total votes 15,587 100

Township Supervisor

2025 Thornton Township Supervisor election[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Napoleon Harris 74.0
Independent Nate Fields 10.7
Republican Richard Nolan 10.3
Independent Christopher J. Clark 4.7
Total votes 100

U.S. Senate

Illinois U.S. Senator (Class III) Democratic Primary, 2016[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tammy Duckworth 1,220,128 64.38
Democratic Andrea Zopp 455,729 24.05
Democratic Napoleon Harris 219,286 11.57
Total votes 1,895,143 100

References

  1. ^ "Illinois General Assembly – Senator Biography". ilga.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Veeneman, Drew. "Map of 15th District" (PDF). precinctmaps.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  3. ^ Myslenski, Skip (September 8, 2001). "Harris starts after all; Walker eager to put newfound depth to use". Chicago Tribune. pp. 3 and 7. So had Harris, who grew up in Dixmoor and played for Thornton.
  4. ^ "NFL Draft News".
  5. ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Teicher, Adam. Chiefs agree to terms with free-agent LB Harris The Kansas City Star, March 6, 2007.
  7. ^ Chiefs agree to terms with UFA LB Napoleon Harris Archived March 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine KCChiefs.com, March 6, 2007.
  8. ^ "The Game: Season 2, Episode 19. I Got 99 Problems and My Chick Is One (11 May 2008)". IMDb. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  9. ^ Jerry McDonald post, Twitter, August 29, 2009
  10. ^ "Napoleon Harris Stats". ESPN. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  11. ^ Jensen, Sean. "Napoleon Harris Seeks Illinois Senate Seat to put Dixmoor Back in the Game". Daily Herald. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  12. ^ "General Primary – 3/20/2012 15th Senate". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "General Election – 11/6/2012 15th Senate". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  14. ^ Herguth, Robert (August 18, 2025). "State Sen. Napoleon Harris to reimburse his campaign fund more than $20k over questionable expenditures". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  15. ^ "Illinois General Assembly – Senator Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Former NFL linebacker to run for Jackson Jr.'s seat". The Hill. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  17. ^ Pearson, Rick (January 31, 2013). "Harris drops out of race for Jackson Jr. seat". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  18. ^ Miller, Rich (November 17, 2015). "Question of the Day". Capitol Fax. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Slowick, Ted (August 19, 2022). "Sen. Napoleon Harris unifies rivals in new role for Thornton Township Democrats". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  20. ^ Stevens, Olivia (December 26, 2025). "Napoleon Harris to appear on ballot in Democratic committeeman race after objections struck down". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  21. ^ Barnes, Jenna; Ong, Eli; Runge, Erik (December 3, 2024). "'They can't beat me': In rare caucus, Tiffany Henyard loses Thornton Township nomination". WGN-TV. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  22. ^ Sharwarko, Carole (April 1, 2025). "Lansing First Party sweeps; Napoleon Harris ticket wins in Thornton Township". The Lansing Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  23. ^ Stevens, Olivia (May 19, 2025). "Napoleon Harris sworn in as Thornton Township supervisor, replaces Tiffany Henyard". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  24. ^ Sharwarko, Carole (May 20, 2025). "Illinois Sen. Napoleon Harris replaces Tiffany Henyard as Thornton Township supervisor". The Lansing Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  25. ^ Bradley, Ben; Schroeder, Andrew (July 14, 2025). "How Tiffany Henyard's Successor At Thornton Township Maneuvered To Keep Earning Six-Figure Salary". WGN-TV. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  26. ^ "Election Results 2012 General Primary". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  27. ^ "Election Results 2012 General Election". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  28. ^ "Election Results 2014 General Election". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  29. ^ "Election Results 2018 General Election". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  30. ^ "COOK COUNTY COOK 20220628 Ver G June 28, 2022 Summary Report - Official Results" (PDF). Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  31. ^ "State Sen. Napoleon Harris Calls Thornton Township Win An 'Opportunity To Unite'". Chicago Tribune. April 2, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  32. ^ "Election Results 2016 General Primary". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
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