He was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 and won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks in 2013 over the Denver Broncos.

His sister, Lintera, ran track, both at Salem High School in Virginia Beach and at Eastern Michigan University.

[2] At Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, Harvin was noted for his speed (4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash as a freshman) and ability to make people miss in the open field.

A year later, Harvin led the Eagles' football team to a perfect 14–0 record and a Virginia High School League (VHSL) Group AAA Division 6 state championship.

In 2005, Landstown finished 13–1 after a 28–7 state championship game upset loss to Oakton High School of Vienna, Virginia.

He also triumphed in basketball, where he helped the team to a 33–6 record and runner-up in the 2005 VHSL AAA state championship game.

In basketball, Harvin and a Green Run High School player were involved in a scuffle that prompted referees to stop the game with time remaining on the clock.

Despite these missteps, Harvin ranks as one of the greatest high school athletes to come out of the Hampton Roads area.

He scored 77 career touchdowns, accounted for more points than any player in South Hampton Roads history, and led Landstown High School to three consecutive Group AAA Division 6 state football championship games.

As a result of various incidents, Harvin was suspended from athletic competition by the Virginia High School League (VHSL).

The suspension prevented Harvin from competing in the VHSL Group AAA State Indoor Track Meet at George Mason University that year.

[11] Harvin made his collegiate debut for the Florida Gators on September 2, 2006, against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

[18][19] He returned to the lineup for the Auburn game and continued his sporadic freshman year performance, rushing for a 42-yard touchdown against rival Florida State.

[24] He finished off his freshman season with a win in the BCS National Championship Game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

[39] In the spring prior to his junior season, Harvin underwent arthroscopic heel surgery on his right heel to address the underlying issue that caused injury trouble throughout his career (achilles tendonitis, knee tendonitis, hip flexor, hamstring and quadriceps issues) dating back to his high school days in Virginia Beach.

[42] He made his season debut in the much anticipated game against Miami, seeing limited action he amassed 39 total yards on one reception and five carries, scoring a rushing touchdown.

[47] Urban Meyer stated the day after the game that Harvin had suffered a hairline fracture in his lower right leg in addition to the high ankle sprain.

On April 30, 2009, while en route to a Minnesota Vikings rookie mini-camp, Harvin fell ill and was hospitalized prior to changing planes in Atlanta.

[55] Additionally, Harvin did not participate in the 2009 NFL Rookie Symposium due to illness[56] and also missed the team's first three practices and first two days of training camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

[54] Harvin caught his first touchdown pass September 13, 2009, in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, thrown by quarterback Brett Favre.

However, he did play in the Vikings week 16 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears,[61][62] He finished the regular season with 60 receptions and eight touchdowns, two on kickoff returns, and a rushing average of nine yards per carry.

Harvin filled a spot created because the Philadelphia Eagles's DeSean Jackson made the NFC team at two positions—wide receiver and kick returner.

[65] Harvin is the sixth Vikings player to win the award, joining Adrian Peterson (2007), Randy Moss (1998), Sammy White (1976), Chuck Foreman (1973) and Paul Flatley (1963).

[70] In Week 6, against the Dallas Cowboys, Harvin had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half in the 24–21 win.

[88] This trade reunited him with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, and wide receiver Sidney Rice, all of whom he worked with during his time in Minnesota.

[93] A week following his first game of the 2013 season, Harvin experienced inflammation in his recently surgically repaired hip which prevented him from playing.

[96][97] Harvin allegedly had locker room altercations with teammates during his tenure with Seattle; also reported was that there were games where he sat himself down, refusing to go back on the field.

[107] On April 15, 2016, Harvin announced his retirement from the NFL stating that he needed time to recover from injury but didn't rule out a possible return.

[108] On November 1, 2016, Harvin signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, coming out of retirement to re-join the team due to injuries to wideouts Sammy Watkins and Greg Salas.

[111] Harvin began to experience severe migraine headaches that kept him out two games and was placed on reserve/non-football illness list, ending his season early after coming out of retirement.