Clay Harbor has given himself a three-month timetable for an NFL return.

After spending last season out of the league, the former Eagles tight end is doing everything he can to earn a workout with a team this offseason.

Harbor spends most of his days training at TC Boost in Chicago. When he isn’t at the training complex, Harbor is catching passes from Northwestern quarterback and NFL draft hopeful, Clayton Thorson.

Harbor isn’t ready to hang up his cleats just yet.

"I still have a passion for the game,” Harbor said in a phone interview with NJ Advance Media. “It’s what I love. I wake up in the morning and that’s what I want to do.”

At this point last year, Harbor was a contestant on “The Bachelorette”. He was coming off a lost season with the New Orleans Saints, as he spent the entire campaign on injured reserve with a wrist injury.

Ironically, Harbor re-injured his left wrist while playing football during the taping of the reality show. He tore a ligament in the wrist, forcing him to rehab the injury as NFL teams entered their offseason programs.

Despite his ailment, Harbor received interest from a few teams prior to training camp. His first visit was with the Buffalo Bills. Harbor suffered a minor abdominal injury during the workout in Buffalo, so the Bills passed on signing him. Due to the new injury, Harbor was unable to work out elsewhere and spent the rest of the season unemployed.

“I took some time, I recovered and I started training again,” Harbor said regarding his time away from the league.

Harbor spent eight seasons in the NFL prior to his year off. A 2010 fourth-round pick of the Eagles, Harbor played for five different teams during his initial stint in the league.

The Missouri State alum flashed plenty of promise during his first six seasons. That timeframe was split evenly by stops in Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

Harbor caught 111 passes for 1,151 receiving yards and eight touchdowns during that span. He was also a core-four special teams player.

Harbor left Jacksonville for New England after becoming a free agent in 2016. He only lasted three games with the Patriots before being released. He rebounded shortly after and signed with the Detroit Lions to finish off the season.

Following his split year with the Patriots and the Lions, Harbor joined the Saints but suffered the aforementioned season-ending wrist injury during training camp.

Harbor could have retired to focus on his opportunities in the entertainment world following his time on “The Bachelorette”. Instead, he decided to continue to pursue his passion: football.

“If my body wasn’t feeling good and I didn’t think I could do it, I’d retire," Harbor said. “I don’t need to play but my body is honestly just feeling really good.”

During his initial NFL run, Harbor was listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. Now at 254 pounds, Harbor notes he is moving quicker and lifting more than he ever has in his career.

He believes the year off helped him get healthier, strong and faster.

“It’s unbelievable,” Harbor said. “My body has made a miraculous turnaround ... I’m feeling really good.”

Another great day at the office! Tag your favorite nfl team and tell them to bring me in for a workout 😂 pic.twitter.com/GMjpRIoHFz — Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) March 23, 2019

Harbor has been filming his workouts in order to show the progress he has made during his time away from the league. He has also considered a position switch to fullback.

The 31-year-old tight end believes he can make the most of an invitation to a rookie minicamp. Harbor’s longtime agent, David Butz, encouraged him to prepare for one more shot at the NFL dream.

“I started training hard again, like I’m getting ready for a football season,” Harbor said. “In my mind, I’m trying to get ready for the season and hoping I get an opportunity for a workout.”

Harbor doesn’t need to play in the NFL to support himself financially. He isn’t seeking fame on the gridiron.

He just wants one more opportunity to play the game he loves at the highest level. If that doesn’t work out, Harbor can the leave the game knowing he tried his best to make a comeback.

“I’m going to put everything into football for the next three months,” Harbor said. “If I don’t get signed by the time training camp is over or around that time, then I’m going to move on and figure out what the next step of my life is going to be.”

Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_E_Kaye.