Darien Harris

Darien Harris is the Director of Player Engagement for the New York Giants. His work centers on helping players succeed both on and off the field, with a strong emphasis on leadership, personal growth, and long term success. 

Darien earned his B.A. in Journalism from the College of Communication Arts & Sciences in 2015, followed by an M.S. in Marketing Research from the Eli Broad College of Business in 2019. During his time at MSU, he was a student athlete and four year letter winner on the football team. He served as team captain during the 2015 season and was part of the winningest senior class in program history, highlighted by two Big Ten Championships, a Rose Bowl appearance, a Cotton Bowl victory, and a berth in the College Football Playoff. 

Darien’s career reflects a journey from being a student athlete to professional football player with the Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) and Ottawa RedBlacks (CFL), to leadership roles within collegiate athletics, and now to the NFL front office. Before joining the Giants in August 2025, he returned to Michigan State Athletics, where he served in roles, including Assistant Athletic Director for Business Development & NIL Strategy and the football program’s first director of Player Engagement.  

Darien is passionate about supporting student athletes as they navigate transitions and pursue their goals. His contributions have earned him recognition such as the ComArtSci Rising Star Award in 2022. 

Beyond his professional work, Darien and his wife, Olivia (ComArtSci ’18), are also co-owners of Recharged Pilates in East Lansing. Darien's advice to students is, “Understand the importance and value of hard work. No matter what profession you pursue, competition is higher than ever. You are competing with your peers every day, what will you do to stand out?”