MSU’s NIL Star Darien Harris Heads to the NFL, Joins Giants’ Front Office
Big changes are happening at Michigan State. While the school is still hunting for its next athletic director, it’s also saying goodbye to another major figure in its athletic department—Darien Harris.
Harris, a former MSU linebacker and key player behind the school’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) strategy, is heading to the NFL. He’s joining the New York Giants as their new director of player engagement.
He’s worn a lot of hats since his playing days in East Lansing. After working closely with the football team, he stepped into a broader athletic department role in 2023. Most recently, he was the assistant AD focused on business development and NIL strategy.
One of Harris’ biggest contributions? Building out MSU’s EverGreen NIL program. He was the go-to person connecting athletes, coaches, and potential sponsors. He wasn’t shy about defending the school’s NIL efforts either—something you don’t see often from folks in his position.
Back when he played, NIL wasn’t even an option. Harris was a four-year letterwinner, a captain of the 2015 team that won the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff. He played in 54 games, racked up 154 tackles, and was part of one of the most successful senior classes in Spartan football history.
Meanwhile, MSU’s athletic department has been going through serious changes. University President Kevin Guskiewicz fired AD Alan Haller in early May and has been on the lookout for a replacement ever since. He told *The Detroit News* this week that he’s “close” to naming someone.
With revenue-sharing changes likely coming soon, Guskiewicz says the next AD needs to be someone who can fundraise and compete with other Big Ten schools. “It’s a much more externally facing job today than it’s ever been,” he said.
Back in February, MSU also brought on Jon Dykema from the Detroit Lions to help manage NIL deals, adding even more pro-level experience to the mix.
MSU’s NIL Guy Just Scored an NFL Gig with the New York Giants
