Harold attended Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was a two-sport star in both football and track. He played as a defensive end, quarterback, running back and wide receiver for the Ocean Lakes Dolphins football team. He was a SI.com honorable mention All-American. As a senior, he totalled 78 tackles and 16 sacks on defense and had 1,146 total yards and 20 touchdowns on wildcat offense. He led the Dolphins with 41 receptions for 723 yards. He was a first-team All-Tidewater pick. He was named the Beach DistrictDefensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-district selection at wide receiver and defensive end. He also played in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he served as a team captain for the East squad. Also a standout track & field athlete, Harold was a state qualifier in the jumping events. At the 2009 Beach District Outdoor Track Championship, he placed 3rd in the triple jump event with a leap of 13.40 meters. He earned a second-place finish in the shot put at the 2012 Tallwood Team Challenge, recording a career-best throw of 14.01 meters. He also posted a personal-best leap of 6.68 meters in the long jump at the 2012 District Meet, where he took first.
Recruiting
Regarded as a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and ESPN, Harold was ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the state of Virginia, the No. 5 defensive end nationally and the No. 50 overall prospect by Rivals, and the No. 15 defensive end in the nation by ESPN. He also earned a scouts grade of 80 from ESPN. He was regarded as a five-star recruit by Scout.com, and was ranked the No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in the nation. In August 2011, Harold committed to the University of Virginia to play college football.
College career
Harold played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2012. He finished the year with 36 tackles two sacks and an interception. Harold took over as a starter in 2013. He finished the year with 51 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Harold returned as a starter his junior season in 2014. He finished the year with 54 tackles seven sacks and one interception. Harold announced on December 10, 2014 that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL Draft. He finished his career with 141 tackles 17.5 sacks and two interceptions.
On May 2, 2015, Harold was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 2015, he played in 16 games making 13 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.
On August 23, 2018, Harold was traded from San Francisco to the Detroit Lions for a conditional 2020 draft pick. Conditions were met and the Lions' 2020 7th round pick transferred to the 49ers.
On August 9, 2019, Harold was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for offensive linemanRyan Bates. He was released during final roster cuts on August 30, 2019.
Personal life
Eli Harold was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1994. He identifies himself as a Christian and was raised in the Church of God in Christ as a Pentecostal during his childhood. His older brother, Walter Ray Harold, Jr., is a Pentecostal minister and pastor in Virginia Beach. Harold's nephew, Forrest Ray Harold, son of his brother Walter Ray, Jr., died on November 13, 2010 at the age of 20. Harold's mother died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56 on January 2, 2011. His other nephew, Walter Harold III, is a quarterback at Virginia State University.He is married to Kelsey Harold. They have one daughter named Zuri.
