The club announced on Wednesday that Harris, who played 160 games over his lengthy 11-year career, is set to don the yellow and black jumper in 2021.
The former North Melbourne and Gold Coast Suns midfielder grew up playing at Ironbark Stadium before he was taken at pick 14 in the 2000 national draft.
Known for his damaging work around the contests and bruising tackles, Harris was a AFL Rising Star nominee in 2001.
Rushworth senior coach Brett Pateman said the club was excited to welcome the talented product back home.
“The club is rapt to have him back playing this year,” Pateman said.
“It's great for the entire club and its supporters to see a former junior who's accomplished so much back running around again.
“And it will boost the young boys coming through, knowing that a player of Daniel's experience will be playing alongside them.”
Harris last played for North Heidelberg in the Northern Football League in 2019, where he played 20 matches and booted five goals.
The Bulldogs went down by 12 points in the division one preliminary final that season.
“He's pretty keen to play as many games as possible,” Pateman said.
“He's trained a few times with us already. He is still fit as a fiddle. He was playing for North Heidelberg with ‘Boomer’ (Brent) Harvey and still playing great footy.
“He'll be able to find his own footy and he'll be great for the entire league which is exciting.
“But we'll see how his body goes. He does have a young family and he coaches one of his young fella's footy team each week.”
Ironically, Harris will once again play under Pateman — his first senior coach when he made his debut for the Tigers as a teenager.
“I actually coached Rushworth the first year they were in the KDL and Daniel was just a teenager at the time and he played his first senior games under me,” Pateman said.
“That was 22 years ago and now he's back and I'll be coaching again which is pretty remarkable.”
Rushworth kicks off its season with an away match against Undera on April 10.
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