Jerome Harrison Jerome Harrison ( born February 26 , 1983 ) is a former American football running back who played six seasons in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Washington State University , and was recognized as a consensus All - American . He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft , and also played for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles . His football career has come to an end as a result of a brain tumor . Early years . Harrison was born in Kalamazoo , Michigan . He attended Kalamazoo Central High School , and played for the Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giants high school football team . He served as his team captain as a junior and senior , and rushed for 2 , 338 yards and thirty - one touchdowns as a senior , earning all - state honors from the " Detroit Free - Press " . His father , Jerome Persell , was a tailback and three - time Mid - American Conference offensive player of the year ( 1976 – 1978 ) at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo . He finished second in the nation in rushing behind Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett in 1976 . In 1978 , he became the third runner in Division I - A history to reach 4 , 000 yards in three seasons and tied a then - NCAA record with three consecutive 200 - yard performances . After receiving a sole NFL tryout , Persell was told that he was too short and too light , a remark that Harrison would encounter as well . College career . After two years at Pasadena City College , Harrison transferred to Washington State University , where he played for the Washington State Cougars football from 2004 to 2005 . Although he played most of his junior year behind starter Chris Bruhn , he finished the last five games of the year with over 900 yards . His senior year saw greater playing time and great success . He broke the record for most consecutive games with 100 or more yards by a Pac - 10 runner , with 16 , and set the Cougars ' single - season rushing record with 1 , 900 yards , which also led the NCAA Division I . He was a consensus All - American in 2005 . He majored in humanities and communications . Professional career . Cleveland Browns . Harrison was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round ( 145th overall ) of the 2006 NFL Draft . In his first season he made ten appearances including one start . He made his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints on September 10 , 2006 . During his second season with the Browns , Harrison appeared in eight games . On December 20 , 2009 , at Kansas City , Harrison broke Jim Brown ' s single - game rushing record for a Cleveland Brown running back with 286 yards and three touchdowns , placing him third on the all - time single - game rushing yards list behind Adrian Peterson , who had rushed for 296 yards and three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers in 2007 , and Jamal Lewis , who had rushed for 295 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns in 2003 . He maintained that form through the end of the regular season , rushing for 561 yards and five touchdowns in the last three games . Harrison signed a 1 - year , $ 2 million contract at the end of 2009 and became the starting running back for the Browns at the start of the 2010 season . Philadelphia Eagles . On October 13 , 2010 , Harrison was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for running back Mike Bell . Detroit Lions . On August 9 , 2011 , Harrison signed with the Detroit Lions . Harrison was traded back to the Eagles in exchange for running back Ronnie Brown and a seventh - round draft pick in 2013 , but the trade was voided the next day after Harrison failed his physical with the Eagles . On October 20 , Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Harrison failed the physical because doctors discovered a brain tumor . He had surgery , during which the tumor was discovered to be benign , but it was surrounded by blood vessels , which led to complications . He was placed on the reserve / non - football injury list by the Lions on October 21 , ending his season . His friend and former Cleveland Browns teammate Josh Cribbs said Harrison is suffering from seizures . On Thanksgiving 2012 , CBS aired a special documenting Harrison ' s recovery . Harrison and his family spoke candidly about his harrowing journey . In it he , his wife and mother mention that he was expected to be a quadriplegic , but he had been very tenacious in his recovery and has regained many of his motor skills . Career statistics . Source : NFL . com Personal Life . Harrison is married to Michelle . They have two children , Jiselle and Jerome .