He played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs before being selected in the 17th and final round of the 1975 NFL draft.
He was a starting fullback known in his playing days as a punishing blocker who opened holes in opposing defenses for star halfback Walter Payton.
Harper ranks sixth on the Bears' all-time rushing list with 3,044 yards and 15 TDs on 757 carries in seven seasons.
Although he was selected in the final round of the 1975 draft, Harper wound up as the Bears starting fullback that season.
[6] He also caught a career-high 43 passes that season for 340 yards, and set another career high by scoring eight touchdowns (six rushing, two receiving).
[1] Although Harper played in 15 games in 1981, he was supplanted as the starting fullback for most of the season by Matt Suhey.