Duron Harmon Can't Wait To Be Teammates With Kenny Golladay

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He's quiet by nature, not the kind of player who seeks the spotlight. But as Kenny Golladay has taken off, his peers have taken notice. 

That includes veteran safety Duron Harmon, acquired by the Lions in a recent trade with the Patriots. Harmon said Golladay is the new teammate he's most excited to play with in Detroit. 

"I’m a big Golladay fan, man," Harmon said on the Double Coverage Podcast with former teammates Devin and Jason McCourty. "We had fantasy going this year and Golladay was my guy! He was consistent. Like, every week, no matter who was at quarterback, I remember -- he’s just good." 

Indeed, even as the Lions were down to third-string QB David Blough last season, Golladay continued to produce. He finished the year with a career-high 1,190 yards and an NFL-best 11 touchdowns. 

But Harmon's respect for Golladay goes back further than that. It started when they squared off in the Lions' win over the Patriots early in the 2018 season. Golladay caught six passes for 53 yards and a touchdown while covered most of the game by All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore. 

"When we played against them, man, I liked his attitude. I liked how he came ready to play," said Harmon. "Him and Steph was going at it and he didn’t say anything -- didn’t say anything at all -- and he was playing well. You gotta respect guys like that who don’t need to talk to let people know how good they are on the football field." 

Harmon, who spent the first seven years of his career in New England, said he's also "super excited" to reunite in Detroit with linebacker Jamie Collins.

"We were drafted together, this is going to be a new journey for both of us, going to a new city. We’re at a good point in our career where I feel like we can help lead, help young guys and teach them how to play the game and win football games," said Harmon. 

It echoes what Collins said after he signed with the Lions, namely that he's ready to be a leader on an "up and coming team." 

As for the trade that sent Harmon to Detroit, he said it was "tough" to get the news. Harmon and his wife raised their three children in the New England area, "and then at the blink of a phone call it all changed."

"But then after you get through the emotions, I look at it from a football standpoint," he said. "It's a great opportunity. Get to go to Detroit, got some young guys in there, a lot of good football players, in a place that's trying to win some games. 

"I'm looking forward to going there with a new opportunity, with some people I'm familiar with, and just try to help the team win."