FLORHAM PARK -- Todd Bowles can be a man of few words, and he's often direct and to the point. So when he says something like what he said about David Harris on Wednesday, you know he's not messing around.

ALSO: 10 things to know about Cowboys

"I don't think we can function on defense if David wasn't playing right now," Bowles, the Jets' head coach, said of Harris, the veteran inside linebacker.

"David's probably the most underrated guy over there. He's the glue that keeps everybody together over there. He does everything."

Harris, now in his ninth season, is the quiet leader of the defense. He rarely comes off the field. He hasn't missed a game since 2008. He's led the team in tackles in all but one of his seasons, and his 52 tackles this season lead the Jets.

"I just do my job," Harris said in his usual understated manner. "I'm just trying to get a Super Bowl ring."

Stars like defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (12 sacks) and Darrelle Revis (three interceptions, three fumble recoveries) make the plays everyone notices. But Harris does the things that keep everything together.

Per Football Outsiders, the Jets are ranked fourth in DVOA in team defense this season, including No. 1 against the run and No. 9 against the pass.

Harris is the one who calls out all the signals.

The Jets (8-5) play at the Cowboys (4-9) on Saturday night.

"He makes a ton of plays," Bowles said of Harris. "They're probably not flashy, like, you see Mo, and you see Revis, and the rest of those guys. But David keeps that core intact; David understands the game. He's our coach on the field. Without him, I don't know where we'd be."

Said Wilkerson: "David is everything, man. He's somebody that I looked up to since I walked in here, Day 1."

Harris had a chance to hit free agency last offseason. His agent let it be known Harris wanted to "retire a Jet." But Harris later admitted to NJ Advance Media's Darryl Slater the possibility of re-joining ex-Jets head coach Rex Ryan with the Bills was "very tempting."

In the end, a few days before he could hit free agency, the Jets re-signed Harris for $15 million in guaranteed money.

"He was a big priority," Bowles said. "He's a good football player. Those guys don't come around often. You can't let them go."

Dom Cosentino may be reached at dcosentino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @domcosentino. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.